Wellbeing
We want to help all our colleagues look after their mental, physical, social and financial health. Our EDI Committee coordinates our efforts, supported by a Health and Wellbeing Champion in some business units.
.jpg?la=en&h=1200&mw=2304&w=1800&hash=33618EF4E0A56FDB577E77F14A4CA23E)
Our Wellbeing Policy commits us to create a workplace where health and wellbeing concerns are addressed in an open and supportive way. We run wellbeing campaigns throughout the year and engage colleagues on topics such as mental health, financial health, suicide awareness, loneliness and physical wellbeing.
Our latest employee survey showed that 93% of employees know how to access support for mental health and wellbeing at work and 87% would feel comfortable talking to their line manager about their mental health and wellbeing (2023: 93%, 85%).
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle
Our core benefits package includes healthcare for all employees, through private medical insurance or health cash plans. All office-based employees are entitled to regular health assessments after completing two year’s service. Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offers counselling, financial advice and a support line. All colleagues can use our virtual GP offer to get an appointment with a GP to discuss any health concerns, obtain advice and treatment such as medical prescriptions.
Regular events and classes encourage employees to look after their physical health, such as drop in Yoga, Pilates and HIIT sessions.
Supporting financial health
We have a range of options to support everyone’s financial wellbeing, to assist employees to be more confident with their money, and to gain skills and capability to manage their finances well. Optional benefits include discounted shopping, access to retail offers and a salary sacrifice car scheme enabling employees to access energy efficient vehicles for them and their families. We also run regular employee sessions on pensions, benefits and webinars on managing money and budgeting.
Mental health in construction
Mental health is a significant concern for the construction industry.
Our Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) support managers and employees when mental health issues arise. We aim to have an MHFA at every site, and registered 76 new first aiders in 2024 bringing our total to 212.
We have rolled out training on managing mental health in the workplace to six of our regional businesses so far, in partnership with Lighthouse Club (a charity providing emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to the construction community). This equips line managers to support colleagues experiencing mental health issues or returning to work from a mental health related absence.
We use the Thrive mental health app, approved by the NHS, which provides tools to manage and improve mental wellbeing. We are ensuring that this app and other wellbeing apps are pre-loaded on work mobile devices. We are a signatory to the Building Mental Health Charter.