Atom Bank, Aldi and Ann Summers were among a list of top firms awarded for their efforts to support employee mental health and wellbeing at an awards ceremony in West London last night.
The Make a Difference Awards, which were launched in 2021 following a partnership between the Standard and workplace culture organisation Make A Difference, seeks to honour companies that have gone the extra mile to ensure their employees have felt supported following a period dominated by recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, continued uncertainty and the cost-of-living crisis.
Atom Bank collected an award for its pioneering efforts to become the first bank to implement a four-day work week, while Ann Summers was praised for encouraging staff to talk openly at work about periods, sex, the menopause, fertility and domestic abuse.
RSPCA was applauded for its efforts to help employees deal with trauma situations, while Medivet received an award for ensuring its vets did not suffer from burnout. Other awards categories included effectively support Women’s Health; integrating Diversity Equity and Inclusion with wellbeing; creating a culture of psychological safety; and support for financial wellbeing.
There were more than 250 entries to the awards this year, almost double the number who entered at the inaugural awards last year in signs employers are taking employee wellbeing more and more seriously.
Claire Farrow, Partner & Global Director of Content at Make a Difference, said: “The judges were very impressed by all the entries, but the ones that really stood out are those that demonstrate a sustainable and measurable commitment to proactive, preventative and inclusive support of workplace wellbeing as well as collaboration across an organisation.”
Rich Mead, COO & CFO of The Evening Standard said: “It’s clear that, moving forward, progressive employers are recognising the significant role that they have to play taking a proactive and preventative approach to supporting the health and wellbeing of their people.”
