122: How to support health and wellbeing in the workplace

The COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have created a unique 'perfect storm' for the work place and health and wellbeing. With uncertainty affecting many, and remote working leaving many employees feeling more isolated, how can businesses support mental health and improve the wellbeing of their staff? What lessons can we learn from this time that can be applied for the future? Joining host Stefan Gates is an expert panel including Amanda Scott, Director of Talent, Learning and D&I, Compass Group, Sally Wilson, BSc, PhD, FRSA, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Employment Studies and Maggi Rose, Head of Programme Evolution, Mental Health at Work. They'll share their own experience, and offer up some practical ways we can all keep our workplace mental health in focus. About our panel Amanda Scott, Director of Talent, Learning and D&I, Compass Group Amanda is an experienced HR professional with extensive generalist, talent and D&I experience across a range of industry sectors including energy, financial services and hospitality. She has a proven track record in designing and leading delivery of the HR agenda for top FTSE companies. She started her career in the NHS before moving into financial services and then oil and gas. Amanda spent over 15 years with BP in a number of HR roles including leading the Global Graduate Programme. Joined Compass in 2018 to lead the Talent, Learning and D&I agenda for the UK & Ireland. She's passionate about inclusion and creating an environment where people from all backgrounds can join and progress their career. Sally Wilson, BSc, PhD, FRSA, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Employment Studies Sally is based at the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) in Brighton and has twenty years of research experience in occupational health, safety and wellbeing. She has worked with Mind, Macmillan, Epilepsy Action and the Government Inclusive Economy Partnership to inform health-related guidance and training for employers and is currently undertaking a project for the Rail Safety and Standards Board focussing on health behaviours. She has also competed work on food safety cultures for the UK Food Standards Agency. In a European context she has completed research for EU-OSHA (the European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health) as well as the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) in Brussels. Sally’s background is in behavioural and health sciences having completed a PhD in neuropsychology at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge. Prior to joining IES, Sally was employed by the Health and Safety Executive and the University of Sheffield. Maggi Rose, Head of Programme Evolution, Mental Health at Work Maggi Rose is the Head of Programme Evolution for Mental Health at Work’s learning and development programmes. She has an extensive clinical and academic background in the field of mental health and brings hands-on experience of the specific drivers and challenges to improving mental health awareness in the workplace across a wide range of organisations, industries and sectors. Maggi’s personal mission is to bring positive change to all workplaces by helping de-mystify mental health, bringing clarity and confidence in the language used and making a difference to individuals and their wider community through reducing stigma. Known for her unique facilitation style, Maggi maintains a fine balance between challenging and supporting delegates to bring about an enjoyable, engaging training experience that brings immediate and tangible benefits. Always going the extra mile to ensure the training is fit for purpose, Maggi is grounded, practical and realistic about organisational and culture change. A key part of MHAW since inception, Maggi has been instrumental in developing and moulding specific relevant and highly relevant workshops.