Burton-based pub company, Punch Pubs & Co has achieved Silver at Mind Workplace Wellbeing Awards for its commitment to workplace wellbeing.
Punch participated for the first time this year. HR Director Jackie Burn, clearly heartened and overwhelmed by this prestigious award, had this to say, 'At Punch, we are passionate about supporting our 278 employees. We work hard to ensure our employees can seek help when needed without reservation, which is why this award means so much to us.'
But this is just the beginning of a journey for Punch Pubs & Co. Jackie advises us to keep eyes peeled, as 'exciting new initiatives are on the horizon to create the optimum working environment for positive mental health and wellbeing'.
A staggering 119 organisations participated in Mind's sixth annual Workplace Wellbeing Index, with the opportunity to gain awards in 'Commitment to Action', Bronze, Silver or Gold status. Punch achieved the Silver award alongside 34 of the 119 organisations taking part. The award denotes demonstrable achievements in promoting staff mental health in the workplace.
Speaking about the awards, Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said, 'Over the last year, Covid-19 has continued to affect our lives and, in particular, the way we work, and it is reassuring that, in its sixth year, the Workplace Wellbeing Index continues to be the foremost benchmark of best policy and practice for supporting mental health at work.
'I'm pleased to see the number of organisations participating in the Index continue to increase annually, with 41,927 staff from 119 organisations across the UK taking part this year. Change has continued to be one of the few constants across workplaces in recent times, and whilst this provides the opportunity for improved ways of working, getting to grips with the 'new normal' can, at times, be difficult for employers and employees alike.'
Emma continued, 'The shift to remote working during the pandemic brought about significant challenges to many of us , but for people who are neurodivergent , this change could be particularly difficult to navigate. Evidence has also shown that Covid-19 has exacerbated the health and economic impacts for people from racialised communities and women in the UK.
'These additional stresses and an increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace more broadly has shone a light on the importance of topics such as intersectionality more than ever before. With all of this in mind, there is a growing need for employers to offer mental health and wellbeing support that considers the unique experiences and needs of each staff member.'
Mind's cutting-edge Wellbeing Index benchmarks best policies and practices for positive mental health and wellbeing. The Index also celebrates employers' excellent work.
