Public relations organisation Publicis Groupe UK has given its 5,000 UK-based employees the day off today (Thursday 10 October 2019) in recognition of World Mental Health Day.
The day of leave aims to encourage staff to concentrate on their personal health and wellbeing.
The initiative forms part of the organisation’s ‘Headline: Let’s talk mental health’ programme, which launched in September 2019.
This stems from Publicis Groupe UK’s wider mental health and wellbeing agenda that launched in June 2019, in conjunction with business management consultancy Robertson Cooper; this includes training managers, introducing mental health first aiders, who have received accredited training by Mental Health First Aid England, and using volunteer mental health and wellbeing ambassadors to promote the strategy from a grassroots level. The business also has key performance indicators (KPIs) linked to mental health and wellbeing.
Other wellbeing benefits provided by Publicis Groupe UK include an employee assistance programme (EAP), private medical insurance (PMI), mindfulness and yoga sessions, massages, physiotherapy, a running club, gym membership and a bikes-for-work scheme.
Philip Chin (pictured), president Europe at Publicis Health, said: “We are taking iterative steps, which we believe over time will make significant strides towards building a workplace of the future where people’s mental health and wellbeing is cared for, so that they are able to do their best work in the best workplace.”