Reflecting on Mental Health Awareness Month: Our Commitment to Staff Wellbeing at The Eastside Rooms

As we look back on May, which was Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to take the time to highlight the importance we place on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our staff at The Eastside Rooms.

We recognise that supporting our staff is the right thing to do, it ensures their happiness, it creates a more positive working environment and is crucial in our role as a responsible employer.  We have therefore, over time, implemented a wide range of initiatives to support both staff mental and physical health, which are inextricably linked.

We’ve improved our onboarding processes to make sure every new team member feels welcomed and valued right from the start. We offer plenty of opportunities for continuous learning and encourage open communication to ensure everyone feels heard.

We are committed to paying all our staff above the living wage, showing our dedication to their financial security and overall satisfaction. In October 2023, we introduced childcare support, helping our employees balance work and family life more easily.

One of our standout initiatives is the £350 annual wellbeing allowance for each employee. This can be used in any way that best suits their mental, physical, and emotional health, underscoring our holistic approach to wellbeing.

We are also proud that in 2023, 25% of our vacancies were filled internally, demonstrating our commitment to employee growth and development. We provide Personal Development Plans tailored to each team member’s aspirations and skills, ensuring a personalised approach to career development.

Our internal engagement platform celebrates positive achievements and milestones, fostering a sense of community and belonging. In fact, the number of positive recognitions increased from 15 in 2022 to 255 in 2023, reflecting our dedication to acknowledging our team’s contributions.

At The Eastside Rooms, we believe that supporting our staff’s mental health is not just beneficial but essential, which is why we have also invested in training 10 members of the team as mental health first aiders. By continuing to invest in this initiative and the many more listed above, we aim to maintain a happy, healthy, and motivated workforce, ensuring that our team members feel valued and supported every step of the way.