Something Big

We’re on a mission to make workplace cultures fairer and more inclusive. 💪 How? Through communications that reflect the kind of society we want to live in. One where people can feel safe, valued and respected when they turn up for work each day.    We asked the team to tell us what they loved about the employee inclusion campaigns we've worked on recently. They told us how proud they are to be changing the world through inclusive comms - one workplace at a time!   A big thank you to our clients for trusting us to create work that has a real human impact! 🙌 #WorkplaceCulture #InclusiveWorkplaces #DiversityandInclusion

Looking to make your D&I efforts more impactful? Awareness days offer businesses a great opportunity to spark meaningful conversations about diversity, encourage learning, and show genuine commitment to inclusion, all while engaging employees. But treating them as a box-ticking exercise will do more harm than good, undermining your efforts. Here are our top tips to avoid empty gestures and make your D&I communications truly count.

We’re delighted to announce that our work with Wates Group has been shortlisted in the Corporate Reporting Awards for Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion Reporting! With inclusivity a key priority, this report highlights the real stories of those positively impacted by Wates’ commitment to building a fairer, more equitable workplace. The creative approach uses a glass effect, bringing into focus the people, initiatives, and topics driving change. A big thank you to Nikunj Upadhyay and the Wates team for trusting us to help bring this important story to life

Every one of us is touched by cancer, whether through our own experiences or those of loved ones. In our recent session on supporting employees living with cancer, we were joined by Lindsay Bridges and Anna Dunn for an honest and insightful conversation. To help you create a more compassionate workplace, we’ve captured key insights and actionable steps from the session. If you're looking to foster a culture where every employee feels truly supported, take a look at the article below. 👉 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eAnqM-CT With half of those living with cancer afraid to tell their employers, and over a third feeling isolated at work, let’s improve communication and ensure no one has to face their journey alone. #WorkingWithCancer #EmployeeWellbeing

Supporting employees living with cancer: A huge topic to bring to the spotlight, hosted by the brilliant Sally Pritchett and the team at Something Big last week. Two (of many) takeaways to support those returning to work: 1. Compassion. After treatment, individuals can experience chronic fatigue, loss of identity and a fear of recurrence. The webinar discussed the non-linear nature of recovery - that two days could be great, then four might be terrible. As colleagues, we can show ongoing support and patience whilst they find their new rhythm. 2. Communication. Ensuring your peer feels seen with thoughtful questions like:   💗 How are you feeling about coming back to work?  💗 How can I help make your transition coming back to work easier?  💗 What do you hope your return to work will look like?  💗 How do you want me to talk about your cancer?  💗 Is there anything you would like us to be aware of around your ongoing treatment? There were multiple references to the amazing support including Macmillan at Work. Support and Wellbeing in the Workplace and Working With Cancer. Huge thank you to Lindsay Bridges, Global Head of HR at DHL Supply Chain and Anna Dunn from Working With Cancer for sharing your experiences and such a brilliant hour.

Shoutout to Sally Pritchett and the team at Something Big for today's inspirational and enlightening webinar on supporting employees living with #cancer. Key learnings for me: 1️⃣ Don't underestimate the importance of compassion and patience with colleagues who are able to return to work after recovery. Many feel a genuine, strong sense of fear of the cancer coming back (e.g. due to the stress of going back to work) alongside experiencing desperation to get back to doing things as efficiently as they did before. 2️⃣ Recovery is not linear. Colleagues can feel great one day, like complete crap the next, without knowing why or how this has happened. When neither person (employer or employee) can predict what's coming day to day, what CAN help both sides is: 🩷 Offering the option of choosing between a phased return to work vs full-time return straight away 🩷 Treat individuals as individuals (i.e. avoid having a one-size-fits-all policy for long-term illness for everyone) 🩷 Ensure that your HR teams AND people managers all have access to a consistent, clear guide on how to manage the situation of a colleague returning to work - e.g. help colleagues to gain confidence in how to approach the employee returning by sharing useful vocabulary/language around this topic - people don't always know what to say, and avoiding the elephant in the room can sometimes be just as harmful (though unintentional). 🩷 Sometimes less is more. E.g. "How's your health?" is a fine way to address someone. 🩷 Also let people know what NOT to say (e.g. "How long did they say you've got?" or "We've told everyone you're just on a sabbatical cos we don't want to mention the whole cancer thing" 🤦♀️ Yes, sadly, these are real examples). 🩷 Allow the employee to have control in how their cancer diagnosis and/or status and/or long-term treatment is communicated internally and also with customers. LOVED the candour and transparency from Lindsay Bridges of DHL Supply Chain, and Anna Dunn of Working With Cancer - thank you both for being so open in sharing your stories 🙌

🎉 Super Proud 🎉 Today, I’m incredibly excited to share that I’m holding not one, but TWO very heavy awards 🏆🏆 for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Brand Identity in my hands! 🙌 I’m beyond grateful for the amazing clients and partnerships that have made these achievements possible. It’s through collaboration and shared vision that we’re able to create meaningful, purposeful campaigns that truly make a difference. 🌍💡 These awards are a testament to the power of teamwork, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of inclusivity and authenticity. Together, we’ve been able to bring big ideas to life and craft brand stories that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey! Brambles CHEP Acacium Group Rosie Davis Sabrina Remedios Eleanor Shakespeare BSc DipM Paul Cellini #DEI #BrandIdentity #Grateful #Teamwork #PurposefulResults #AwardWinning #MakingADifference

"I always say, as a manager, managing an employee with cancer is probably one of the most challenging things you can do." In this video, Barbara Wilson, Founder of Working With Cancer, shares her insights on the complexities of supporting employees returning to work after a cancer diagnosis. Barbara explains how recovery is not a linear process, with each person’s journey being unique, which is why employers need to approach it with flexibility and care. If you’d like to learn more about creating a more supportive workplace, there’s still time to register for tomorrow’s 'Supporting employees living with cancer' session. We will explore the role of communication in fostering a supportive and empathetic environment for employees facing long-term illness. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eg_-N-Tj

Cancer is a subject often shrouded in fear and stigma. In this clip, Barbara Wilson, Founder of Working With Cancer, speaks with Sally about the importance of addressing these issues openly to create a more compassionate and understanding workplace culture. If you’re keen to learn how to better support employees through these challenges, sign up for our upcoming session this Friday, where we’ll be sharing practical advice to make your workplace a fairer, healthier and happier place. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eg_-N-Tj #WorkingWithCancer #CancerSupport #EmployeeWellbeing

This week, we proudly wore pink, baked treats, and raised funds for Breast Cancer Now as part of #WearItPink, supporting life-changing cancer research and care. We were also joined by Jo Larbie, who led an insightful session on how we can be better allies to colleagues and loved ones living with cancer. Jo shared practical advice on having supportive conversations, understanding what topics to approach with care, and how our words can make a real difference. Her ability to create such a safe and open space for our team was truly appreciated. If you're looking for an experienced and empathetic coach, then please consider reaching out to Jo: https://lnkd.in/e5gxjfe2 With 50% of people living with cancer afraid to open up to their employers, and over a third feeling isolated at work, it’s clear more needs to be done. That’s why next week,  we’re hosting a powerful session open to all on how businesses can show real compassion to those working with cancer, and create a supportive culture. Register here to join us: https://lnkd.in/eg_-N-Tj Image description: Members of the Something Big team wearing pink clothes to take part in #WearItPink, raising money to help fund life-changing breast cancer research and support #WorkingWithCancer #EmployeeWellbeing