In this article, Leigh McKay unveils three steps towards developing an effective wellbeing strategy in the legal sector, aimed at nurturing supportive working environments where people thrive.
Firms often have the best intentions when it comes to mental health support for their staff. Mental health is one component of our overall wellbeing. This article reveals three steps to consider for your wellbeing strategy. These steps are not exhaustive, however offer a good starting point for firms to increase the likelihood of success and create environments where individuals can thrive.
It’s important first to differentiate between culture, policy and procedure and strategy.
Culture
A wellbeing culture that supports openness about mental health is our ultimate goal, the peak we are all striving towards. This means creating an environment where your law firm actively prioritises and promotes positive mental health, provides a variety resources that anyone experiencing good, poor or ill mental health can access, and where everybody feels able to reach out for support and recognises your firm as part of their recovery process, stigma free.
Policy and procedure
Policies are formal guidelines or principles that dictate decision-making and help ensure consistency and compliance with your firms’ objectives, legal requirements, and ethical standards. Procedures are the actionable initiatives shared with your people, empowering them to take ownership of their own wellbeing and for the firm these resources fulfil your responsibility to staff.
Strategy
Strategy refers to a plan of action designed to achieve specific goals or objectives in the long term. It involves making choices about where to allocate resources, what will be most effective, and how to position your firm for sustainable success. It offers a framework that equips you to benchmark how you have made a difference.