May 2022 – Unipart Group has signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment to improve and support employee wellbeing.
Developed with the knowledge and expertise of mental health charities, leading employers and trade organisations, the Mental Health at Work Commitment sets out six clear standards to create an environment where employees can thrive.
In a survey of UK adults conducted by Business in the Community in partnership with Bupa in 2020, only one in two (51%) of employees say they feel comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace, whilst two in five (39%) report they have experienced a work-related mental health issue.
Unipart has already started to deliver against the Mental Health at Work Commitment, last year by introducing a network of Mental Health First Aiders. Trained volunteers throughout the organisation, Mental Health First Aiders, support crisis conversations with colleagues and proactively work to raise awareness of emotional health and break down stigma.
Unipart Head of Health and Wellbeing Claire Burgess said: “Unipart is absolutely committed to the total wellbeing of our people as part of our Unipart WorkWell strategy. Against the Mental Health at Work Commitment standards we plan to further extend our network of Mental Health First Aiders and support every employee with training to expand their awareness of mental health.
“We will take a significant step forward in breaking down stigma by rolling out our managing mental health in the workplace training, and conducting Health Needs Assessment so everyone can input into the wellbeing activity for their team. We will report on our progress against the Mental Health at Work Commitment and share the impact our strategy is having.”
Andrew Berrie, Mental Health at Work National Lead said: “We’re delighted to see Unipart Group sign the Mental Health at Work Commitment. By embedding our six standards in the way they operate, Unipart Group is demonstrating a real commitment to supporting the mental health of those in their workplace.
“We know it can be hard to talk about mental health and seek support, which is why public commitments such as this one are so important. With issues like stress, anxiety and depression common across all employers, regardless of size or sector, we want to see every employer recognise and address any work related causes of poor mental health among their staff and it’s fantastic to see organisations like Unipart Group taking the lead.
“Many leading employers have found that making a strategic commitment to the mental wellbeing of their workforce not only benefits their staff but also their bottom-line, improving productivity and staff retention. With one in six British workers experiencing mental illness it’s time for businesses to make a change and start creating more mentally healthy workplaces.”