Congratulations to Skanska, winner of our first Advancing Change Award, for Skanska's Green Sticker Initiative. This award, presented last week at our Advancing Innovation Awards, recognizes an AWIN member for improving health, equity, diversity, and collaboration in the workplace. This impactful program that addresses mental health head-on in the workplace, is supported by dedicated leadership, and demonstrates how simple changes can significantly benefit an organization’s greatest asset: its people. Watch the video to hear the inspiring story.
The name of the initiative is, is the green sticker program that really focuses on mental health and awareness around mental health in the construction industry. The construction industry has the highest rate of suicide of any industry in in the US right now. So we really want to focus on, you know, making sure that we're communicating with people and making sure that people have an Ave. to talk to somebody and also making sure that our people are trained to recognize people that are at risk. This came really through Tony Foster. He recognized that there was a program that we have in the UK. He dug into it and understood a little bit about it, presented it to the leadership team as an initiative. And I think unanimously we we all thought, hey, this is something that we need to get behind and support and, and he took it and ran with it. I am the person that is in charge of environmental health and safety for Tennessee and Kentucky. This is Skanska's green sticker program. It's centered around mental health. First Aid and our Green Sticker program is designed to remove the stigma around mental health. The construction industry in general is always one of the leaning industries that struggles with suicide as well as addiction. And when we look at the mental health journey around that, really because of the long hours, the transient work that people have to do as well as the hard work that they have to do, we wanted to work really hard around removing that. Stigma and really improving the communication to let the most important asset that we have at Skanska know that we care about them and that's our people. So what we did is we centered the program around mental health first aid. And mental health first aid enables the student to get basic education, to be able to listen non judgmentally and really be able to assess the person and then be able to refer them to programs that we have set up within the community. And programs that are set up for people with benefits and for people without benefits, we offer that invitation to people through that ability of having conversations and then just simply inviting people to approach people with a green sticker on their hard hat. And you can see my green sticker right here. We also have posters throughout the whole project where people then where they would enter into the project, they can see that green sticker and that invitation. They also have a local numbers as well as national numbers that they can call if they don't feel like approaching us to improve that mental health. Not obviously people in our Skanska offices don't wear hard hats around, but we've developed desk tents so people that are green sticker trained have desk tints to do the same. Are green sticker program was founded in Nashville. We had almost 100% participation with all of our employees wanting to get on board with that. Totally a volunteer. Basis, right, Literally everyone wanting to sign up and we couldn't accommodate everyone. So we had to get another class together as quickly as we could to be able to accommodate that, which is amazing. We've trained roughly 174 people to date and we have someone on every project and at someone at every office that's green sticker trained. The most important thing is that we listen non judgmentally. We really want to work hard to make that invitation and we're not going to diagnose, make any judgment. Anything like that at all, but we want to encourage that person to get that help. We had a project that one of our superintendents developed a relationship with a man working on site recognize some some of the the signs that that the guy may need help. Talk to that individual communicated with him off and on. And you know the at the end of the day that that guy came to him seeking help and and you know. We're not going to treat right. We're going to recognize it. We're going to have the communication, we're going to have the avenue to get them help. And that worked out. It was picture perfect. It worked just like it was supposed to. He had the relationship. He recognized the need, you know, he, he made the guy feel comfortable and the guy came and talked to him and said, hey, I need some help. I get emotional about success stories like that because. People in need don't often ask for help, and to see one of our young superintendents being able to recognize that. Put in place his training and get that person help. Really from a leadership standpoint, you know, it it, it tells you you're doing the right thing, you've got the right people, you provide them the right training and and you, you know, everything is working within your organization. So something I'm really proud of. So not only that does it affect our employees at work or, or tool that they can use at work, but it's a tool that they can use outside of work. And you know, it has the potential to reach home, extended family and, and you know, the the ripple effects into the community could be huge. If if another organization at a win was looking to develop a similar program, it would really be very easy and obviously we would love to help anyone with that.
People are an organization's most important resource. If you want your organization to thrive, you must show your employees they are valued. Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are critical, yet many organizations are distributing away from DEIB programs. The long-term effects are crucial.
#EmployeeEngagement#ValuedEmployees#OrganizationalSuccess
Amidst a changing climate, prioritizing safety and health at work becomes even more crucial. On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we reaffirm our commitment to creating safe and healthy workplaces for all.
We emphasize the need to adapt to environmental shifts while ensuring the well-being of our staff, partners and patients. By implementing sustainable practices, fostering resilience, and embracing innovation, we can create workplaces that are safe, healthy, and sustainable.
https://lnkd.in/dNsjCMUZ
Start a transformative trip with Dr. Releford's groundbreaking plan for wellness in Inglewood and Acton. Discover how his vision is reshaping communities, addressing health and wellness differences from metropolitan to rural areas. Discover just how locals are encouraged with boosted access to medical care and crucial sources, cultivating a society of health and vitality. Check out the collaborative efforts with area companions that are driving genuine modification and creating a causal sequence of positivity. Dive into success tales that showcase the concrete impact of Dr. Releford's plan on people and areas. Peer into the future as sustainability and new campaigns guarantee proceeded progress towards much healthier, happier communities.
Celebrating World Health Day 2024! 🌍🔬
As we celebrate World Health Day, we are thrilled to share an insightful blog that showcases our dedication to providing cleaner environments and safer working conditions, aligning closely with this year's theme: "My Health, My Right."
As we highlight the importance of individual health rights, it's crucial to recognise that creating a healthier future requires collective effort. While we do our part, it's equally essential for everyone else to play a role in ensuring better health for people worldwide. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, healthier tomorrow. 🌟💪
Read the full article below 👇
#WorldHealthDay#MyHealthMyRight#GlobalHealth#HealthyFuture
Want to know more about the miaList 2024 finalists, a review of our ESG workshop, a preview of our upcoming event at the presigious Knowsley Hall or get the latest wellbeing tips for your team? It's all there and more in our MIA August Newsflash. You can also sign up for these if you don't receive them already via our website (link in the comment below).
https://lnkd.in/efGKwRzS#meetingsindustry#meetingsindustrynews#eventprofs
Regardless of our age, if our home is our planet, then we're all part of one unified movement now. Our planet's wellbeing is in our hands, and it's time we prioritize its health above all else. 🌍💚
Happy World Environment Day! Today, let's focus our attention on raising awareness by asking these important questions and taking small steps forward.
#GenerationRestoration#worldenvironmentday#sustainability
We need to talk about Wellwashing.
In the rush to showcase employee wellbeing, many organisations have fallen into the trap of "wellwashing"—offering superficial perks without addressing the real issues causing burnout and workplace stress. Just like greenwashing, wellwashing can erode trust, damage credibility, and lead to increased employee disengagement and turnover.
Some Common Wellwashing Tactics:
🛑 Prioritising perks over policies (e.g., free yoga classes vs. addressing unmanagable workload)
🛑 Leaders promoting work-life balance publicly but not embodying it themselves
🛑 Offering benefits like flexible hours but penalising employees who use them
🛑 Tracking participation in wellbeing programs without measuring their true impact
🛑 Shifting responsibility for wellbeing onto individuals rather than fixing organisational issues
As an even larger threat, wellwashing may lead to a backlash against wellbeing initiatives by employees and society. The future of work depends on creating sustainable, healthy workplaces. Let's make sure we call out superficial gestures and commit to genuine, impactful strategies that foster a thriving workforce.
Check out my latest piece on wellwashing and what we can do to avoid falling into this trap.
https://lnkd.in/g3X8YRfJ#WorkplaceWellbeing#HR#burnout#workplacesustainability#Leadership#Culture#Wellwashing
Are you a word of the year person?
I'm a hybrid. If a word comes to me, I embrace it. If not, no skin off my nose.
This year, I have a word.
SIMPLICITY
Here is what simplicity means to me...
...focusing on what is essential
...eliminating waste
...letting go of what no longer serves me
...managing my business and life in a way that is sustainable
...streamlining
If any of this resonates with you, then be sure to stick around and stay in touch.
As we enter this new year together, I've got some great tips and resources to support you in simplifying the way you manage your practice along with some new ways we can partner together.
If you want to join me on this journey, we can certainly stay social here, but the place where I hang out the most is in my FB Community - The Business of Private Practice: Simple Strategies for Therapists.
You are always welcome just as you are.
Join here: https://lnkd.in/gNb_xx5P#SimplePractice#FocusOnEssentials#EliminateWaste#SustainableBusiness#SimpleStrategies#BusinessSimplicity#privatepractice#vanessaanneopsmanagement#vanessaanneops#CleanSlate#TherapistSupport#MentalHealthProfessionals#MentalHealthProfessional
Wes Streeting has widely discussed addressing the “cultural rot" at the heart of the NHS, and it will be interesting to see how he will try to succeed where many have failed. Trying to act on culture, particularly by asking people to improve culture, is rarely successful or sustainable.
"In most cases trying to change the culture is futile. Act on the system instead: goals, demand, incentives, constrains, resource" - Steven Shorrock
So how can we act on the system and not people to improve culture? Have a look at this fantastic article!
"Seeking a transformed culture, without building the systems that enable it, is like trying to create music without instruments." Dr. Kedar Matehttps://lnkd.in/eSm7pGGH
Thanks, AWIN. We're honored to have received the Advancing Change Award for our Green Sticker Program! #CareForLife