Skip to content
Speak to an expert on
0113 869 8101
×
  • Home
  • Thrive Wellbeing
  • Outsourced HR
  • Events
  • News/Blogs
  • Thrive Women
  • Thriving Minds
  • Thrive Tribe
  • Our Costs
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
Thrive Wellbeing Login
×
Employment Law
Learn about our Employment Law Services
  • Employment Status
  • TUPE
  • Whistleblowing
  • Consultancy Agreements
  • Restrictive Covenants
  • Constructive dismissal
  • Unfair dismissal
  • Discrimination
  • Settlement Agreements
  • Tribunal
Outsourced HR
Learn about our Human Resources Services
  • How does our outsourced HR service work?
Mental Health & Diversity
Learn about our Mental Health Services
  • Mental Health In The Workplace

Mental Health Awareness Week – is your law firm ready?

Author: #khaleeqa Published 15th May 2020

My ultimate top tip for firms at this time is…

Be flexible and be kind – this is a difficult time for everyone be kind to yourself, on you team and use this as an opportunity to innovate.  This ties in quite nicely as next week is #MHAW2020 and the theme this year is #kindness.

Here are my suggestions for any size firms at this time…

Promote good wellbeing

  • Working patterns are changing – in a good way but without people having the chance to adjust – so it is important to stay connected with your teams and have regular communication. At Thrive we use video call, What’sApp messaging with voice notes and encourage the team to chat to one another throughout the day too.
  • Staff will be feeling anxious at this time so it is important to remind them of what support they can access, such as employee assistance programmes and Mental Health First Aiders. It could be as simple as an email to all staff recognising it is an anxious time and  you would like to support, asking that they speak to a manager or colleague if they are worried.
  • Share other sources of support and advice such as from Mind and Public Health England.
  • Provide online mental health training.
  • Encourage staff to access free online tools that assist with self-care and mental health.
  • Conduct risk assessments – mental and physical as its much harder to check your team are okay when you don’t see them at all.
  • Seek the right support and help. @Solicitors Regulation Authority have published a webinar on Covid-19 and other compliance issues.

Make sure your clients continue to get a good service

  • Good communication is key! Keep your clients informed and be clear about what can be done and what may be more challenging.
  • It is important to manage expectations and to be realistic. Don’t over promise as working in a new environment can have its challenges and takes some time to adjust.
  • Use this as an opportunity to be creative! You can offer online meetings and  conference calls.
  • Remember to make adjustments for vulnerable and disabled clients. Also those clients who don’t use tech, be mindful some people don’t like to video call and don’t know how to, ask them how they would like to communicate.

How can firms support staff that have a disability and/or mental health problem…

  • This can be a challenging time for people with pre-existing or part mental health problems, check in with staff and offer support and adjustments. Take time to chat on video or calls none work related with all of your team.
  • Staff may choose this time to disclose a disability/mental health problem, be sensitive and respectful.
  • Remember that change can be difficult for some, speak to staff and offer reassurance.
  • It is important to maintain reasonable adjustments at this time, for example, adjusting and maintaining working patterns or offering and putting in place accessible IT systems so staff can continue working!

This is Me and the Green Ribbon Campaign

  • Every year, one in four people experience a mental health problem.
  • This is Me is a pioneering campaign to reduce stigma and dispel myths around mental health in the workplace.
  • Our goal is to improve awareness and understanding of wellbeing in order to create safer and more supportive working environments.
  • The Green Ribbon campaign is a visible sign of support to #endthestigma around mental health.
  • Over 600 organisations registered UK wide
  • Potentially reaching over 1,000,000 employees
  • Over 160 organisations sharing employee stories
  • Cities lit up green in Mental Health Awareness Week
  • As we continue to experience lockdown we can still raise awareness through a visible commitment to help #endthestigma around mental health, showing those experiencing mental health issues that they are not alone. We can do this virtually by:
    • Creating a visible movement of support by turning LinkedIn Green and tag your city eg.  #endthestigmaLeeds
    • Be kind to others through Give a Green Ribbon
    • Be kind to yourself through Green Ribbon activities – can make your own Green Ribbon through the origami make your own or colouring make your own
    • Be kind through listening using Wellbeing in the Workplace
    • Show example of kindness through This is Me Storytelling
  • There are a variety of resources, including options to virtually wear a Green Ribbon which you can download here.

 

Written by Jodie Hill

 

Anything within this article should not be taken as legal advice. Any information provided will be general advice and for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking or deciding not to take any action. If you wish to obtain specific advice to your situation and your decisions, please contact us and we will thereafter be able to advise.

Post Categories

  • All
  • Thrive In The Media
  • Thrive Thoughts

Related Articles

Supporting Neurodiversity in the workplace – What can you do?

Published 13th January 2021

Supporting Neurodiversity in the workplace – What is it & why is it important?

Published 11th January 2021

Guest Blog: Do you want an office Christmas party to remember this year?

Published 9th December 2020

Employers obligations towards employee’s mental health at work

Published 20th November 2020

How to tell your boss you’re unhappy

Published 26th October 2020

Share this Article

Next Article>>

Subscribe to our Newsletter

loader

#ThriveTribe

We believe that everyone should be enabled to thrive in the workplace and we’ll work with you to understand your business and offer the right solution in terms of employment law and well-being.


Copyright 2020 - Thrive Law. All Rights Reserved JLH Legal Limited (trading as Thrive Law) are solicitors of England and Wales authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 644790. Details of the Solicitors Standards and Regulations can be found at www.sra.org.uk. JLH Legal Limited is a Company registered in England and Wales under Company Number 10737027

Employment Law
Human Resources
Mental Heath
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Website Terms of Business
Complaints
Manage Your Cookies
Sitemap
0113 869 8101
enquiries@thrivelaw.co.uk

15 Queen Square
Leeds
LS2 8AJ

85 Great Portland Street
First Floor
London
W1W 7LT

Website Designed, Developed & Hosted by Pragmatic Digital

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Thrive Law
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Analytics Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy