Insurance and technology organisation Allianz Worldwide Partners UK has hosted a wellbeing week for its 500 employees.
The Work Well Week, which ran from 5 February 2018, was designed to promote both mental and physical wellbeing, advocating an all-round healthy lifestyle for employees in and out of the workplace.
Activities during the week included a two-day mental health first aid course, which was attended by 32 managers across the business, a 30-minute presentation by non-for-profit organisation Samaritans, and individual neuro-linguistic programming sessions, which aimed to help employees develop more effective communication skills, promote increased motivation, and create a more positive frame of mind.
A representative from the organisation’s employee assistance programme (EAP) provider conducted a session on the service, and Allianz Worldwide Partners UK’s Croydon office was also visited by seven-year-old border collie Eric (pictured), from the charity Therapy Dogs Nationwide. Eric’s visit was designed to encourage staff to take a break away from their desks.
Employees were also able to take part in a self-defence class. As a result of this session, Allianz Worldwide Partners UK are now planning to introduce a six-week lunchtime course, to help employees step away from their desks and to improve productivity.
The week also included healthy food workshops, first aid courses and full-body health checks.
The organisation used both online and offline communications to inform employees about the wellbeing week. This included using posters, a desk-dropped week timetable for all office-based employees, a dedicated page on the staff intranet where staff could view and book on to the available events, and daily email communications during the week itself. In addition, Allianz Worldwide Partners UK sent tailored emails to its field-based employees to explain the wellbeing week and provide links to further resources and training.
Maureen Stapley, HR director at Allianz Worldwide Partners UK, said: “Our Work Well Week is designed to promote wellbeing within the workplace and to encourage employees to have a healthy lifestyle. Eric was a huge hit with everyone and showed how soothing it can be to have a few minutes with an animal to help employees get away from their screen and unwind. Allianz Worldwide Partners UK has a well-established employee assistance programme, however we were keen to de-stigmatise stress and help open communication lines so that actions against stress can be embraced.
“This whole week is about focusing on our employees, as they are the most valuable part of the success of Allianz Worldwide Partners UK. From diet and nutrition, to the way we deal with stress, the wellness week encourages a discussion about important subjects, including mental health. Crucially, the activities and talks aim to equip teams and their managers with the skills they need to be able to talk comfortably about these issues, which benefits everyone, including the business.”