As the pandemic continues to have a terrifying impact on our mental health – the latest studies predict that up to 10 million people in England (almost 20% of the population) will either need new or additional mental health support as a consequence of Covid-19 – it’s time that businesses prioritise the wellbeing of their staff. Agency owner, Tara Tomes, outlines some of the ways that her Birmingham PR agency EAST VILLAGE. is supporting its team members to talk about their mental health and wellbeing, and provide the support they need.
Running a business is tough and managing people is even harder, but there’s never been a more important time to truly understand your team and their needs. If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s how crucial it is to care about the people around you and, for me, that has always included the EAST VILLAGE. team. We’re a unit, a collective, and we spend so much time together – now virtually, of course – that I want the best for them. Not just from a commercial point of view because let’s face it if your team is happy, they’re more productive, but also as a human being that wants good things for everyone.
I think too many managers and business owners are quick to forget their human instinct; it really doesn’t have to be sacrificed as a result of your business ambitions… the two can work in harmony. Regardless of the shape or size of your organisation, you have a responsibility to make mental health in the workplace a priority.
When I set up EAST VILLAGE. over seven years ago, my ambition was to create a business centred around team culture. This was never just about Friday drinks and being able to wear trainers in the office, it’s always been a point of reference to make sure that we’re leading and managing it in the right direction. That’s why we created the TeamEV Charter; a set of values that we live by and hold ourselves account to. In the PR industry alone, it shows that over 34% of the UK’s pros have suffered from or been diagnosed with mental ill-health; it’s a growing issue and one that really matters!
Even pre-pandemic, EAST VILLAGE. embraced flexible working and it’s something that has transformed the way that our team feels about their work/life balance. For the mums in the team, they know that their colleagues and managers understand their priorities are different, but for those in the team without children, they don’t feel like the perks are one-sided. This is a big part of the point for me; there shouldn’t be discrimination – even if positive – I believe you have to build a business that’s fair and works for everyone. It’s a challenge at times, don’t get me wrong, but that’s no excuse for not doing it.
By communicating with your team, you’re able to open up conversations about how the business can better support their mental health and wellbeing. We’re big talkers at EV. and I have always encouraged everyone to be open – whilst also still very respectful to one other – which means we have a lot of emotions in the (now virtual) office. I make it clear that whilst you have to be professional with clients, you don’t have to put on a show with your colleagues; if you’re struggling let the team know and we’ll do everything we can to not just make you feel better, but also make your day less stressful.
This also comes back to me and giving the team a chance to feedback their thoughts and feelings. I’m always very forthcoming asking the team’s advice and to share their thoughts, but I know that sometimes it’s not that easy to say out loud. So, a few years ago we implemented an ‘If I were boss for the day’ anonymous box, where people can put suggestions in for how they’d change the business; big and small. We’ve had everything from making sure there’s oat milk as well as normal milk, to working a four-day week, right through to having more regular appraisals that help people track their goals better. I love getting this insight and I’d like to think the team loves being heard. Whilst I can’t make everything happen, it gives me great food for thought!
Understanding the team is such an important part of running a successful and fruitful business. This includes understanding what management styles work best for each person, as this can have a big impact on mental health in the workplace. It might be something as simple as someone preferring to be briefed in writing rather than verbally; understanding these factors can massively reduce their levels of stress and anxiety and, of course in turn increase productivity. We have processes and procedures in place so that there’s a base level for everything we do, but everyone has a slightly different style of management depending on how they learn and absorb information, especially when it comes to feedback. One size does not fit all when it comes to management.
Ensuring that people have the right training – from people management to coaching – can really improve mental health in the workplace too. Next month, we start a Mental Health First Aider course with Altruist, which will further deepen our understanding of how we can support our team and build our own resilience. Personal and professional development is a great way to improve mental health in the workplace; from focusing on it in our three-month reviews, to encouraging everyone to make time for networking and charity involvement.
Most importantly, mental health cannot be a taboo subject; I want people to talk about their feelings and not feel like it’s going to be a HR issue. We provide access to free counselling and therapy via Living Well UK and we’re just about sign up to the Able Futures Government-backed scheme, where employees can access up to nine months of support too.
This is only the beginning, but I hope that I can inspire others to implement small changes that make a big difference. Not only do you want to be a great leader who cares for the people that work in your business, but you’re going to have better productivity and a much higher retention rate as a result. Plus, your team will be the biggest advocates for your business and how it supports its staff.
EAST VILLAGE. is a Birmingham-based PR agency that works with brands who share good values and great stories. Founded by Tara Tomes in 2013, the agency supports clients across retail, leisure, hospitality and the Third Sector with PR, marketing, social media and events. To find out more, visit www.eastvillageagency.com.
