Mental Health at Mondottica - World Mental Health Day

We sit down with Kate Box, Mondottica Group People & Culture Director, to talk through this year’s World Mental Health Day theme – workplace mental health.

How is Mondottica Group recognising World Mental Health day this year?

This year, the World Mental Health Day theme is about mental health in the workplace. Our diversity and inclusion team, including some of our mental heath first aiders, have created some articles and activities to remind employees what is available to them.

Mental wellbeing is something that Mondottica Group has supported for a number of years. We have recognised that staff that can be their best, perform at their best.

We ensure all year-around that we are clear with our teams on what is expected, we feedback to support improvement and give space to raise concerns and support when needed.

What support does Mondottica Group offer its employees?

In terms of direct support for mental health, we have trained mental health first aiders across all parts of the business. Mondottica Group has an anonymous facility to book time with them. We conduct mental health risk assessments through our Health & Safety group and offer an employee assistance programme, provided by a third party, to all employees, their partners and dependents, offering confidential financial, legal and emotional support.

Mondottica Group has an internal diversity and inclusion team that discuss and promote mental health strategies on special days like World Mental Health Day.

We believe that culture and values promoting a workplace that delivers a high performance and remains supportive aren’t mutually exclusive. At a higher level, Mondottica Group has a people strategy to support our teams to be their best, so they can deliver their best. This includes good line management, communication and clarity of roles.

How is diversity and inclusion incorporated into World Mental Health day?

One size doesn’t fit all for mental health. If somebody is struggling we want them to feel that they can ask for help. It’s about understanding that the solutions need to be varied and diverse as the people who work for us. This could be regular touch points for some, freedom to choose flexible working hours for others, or very structured direction for another.

We have used this to enable our teams to be more creative, suggest ideas without fear of failing, allow the openness to challenge when something goes wrong and created a safe space so everybody feels included to be themselves.

It creates a stronger team and better creativity and dynamics. If you have a diverse team, you are going to have different ideas and different perspectives and therefore be more creative and inspire innovation.

What was it like for Mondottica Group to be named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list this year and how did it receive this prestigious accolade?

Mondottica Group was really proud to be featured in The Top 100 Sunday Times Best Places to Work. It is a recognition of our commitment to create a workplace that thrives and delivers.

The metrics to be included were whether staff felt empowered in their roles, how much confidence they have in management, how good information is shared, as well as measuring things like diversity and attrition.

Mondotttica Group staff turnover is significantly lower than the national average. An experienced and stable workforce who know what they are doing minimises disruptions and is a huge benefit to the business.

We scored excellently and we feel it drives the value in our business. We have people who are empowered and believe in us and what we deliver. That translates to our customers and partners and our overall business performance.

Anything else you’d like to add?

World Mental Health Day is often looked at as a fluffy HR initiative, but the motivation and driver behind what we do is about improving business performance. Creating a space where people can be their best is a win-win for everybody.