At Rooster Punk we are raising awareness about anxiety in the workplace for Mental Health Awareness Week.
Marketing agencies are traditionally fast-paced, highly driven environments which can be exhilarating to be a part of and give you a great sense of achievement. They can offer an opportunity to thrive and grow, and to be involved in creative campaigns with some of the biggest brands in the world.
However, such environments can be stressful and the need to deliver high-quality work under pressure can cause anxiety, as well as perfectionism, self-criticism and tension. Organisational culture determines how these issues are dealt with – and if they are not addressed then they can become embedded and create a toxic work environment.
At Rooster Punk, not only are we Humanizing B2B but we try to have a human culture too; grounded in our four core values which include ‘Be Human’ and ‘Lift and Be Lifted’.
Our DE&I approach means we have a very inclusive, approachable and honest culture, where it is okay to say, “I need some space, I am struggling with something’. It means that we expect people to be aware of their team members and regularly check in with how people are doing. As a team, we are actively trying to break down the stigma of mental health and set the team up for success.
Since the pandemic, we have had a hybrid working model, allowing team members to choose the balance and lifestyle that works for them. We offer mental wellness benefits, such as the @Yulife wellbeing app, which offers fitness and meditation subscriptions and challenges, as well as counselling services should anyone need them. We also have a business coach Yasmine Khan who supports the team, both in one-to-one sessions and in group workshops that focus on areas such as active listening and psychological safety in the workplace.
Based on our team values and ethos, it was only natural that when we were discussing what charity we wanted to support this year, the team were keen to engage with the Mental Health Foundation.
As part of our engagement, we asked our peers on LinkedIn what they think is the best way to achieve mental health inclusion in the workplace. These were the results:
Organisational cultures have a way to go still, but when I think of times gone by, we have come a long way. Workplaces need to be more approachable and flexible, but there is now recognition that with wellness benefits you create a healthier work force – which will result in less sick days. If people are less negatively impacted by work-life balances and allowed to build a lifestyle that incorporates positive, endorphin-boosting activities, then loyalty and productivity increase as they’re more able to cope with stress. And if there is education and tolerance for when things are not okay, people are more adept at resolving them and supporting people which builds stronger relationships and teams.
Utopia? Maybe not… but I am really proud that we have been able to make a difference, no matter how small.
Rooster Punk is fundraising for The Mental Health Foundation! In May five of our team jumped out of a plane at 12,000 feet and this month we’re walking 14 miles along the Seven Sisters Cliffs. If you want to help contribute to the fantastic work of this charity, please donate via this link.
Brave Roosters went above and beyond to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation.