Stress Awareness Month

Stress is present in every workplace, but it is particularly prevalent in the law due to the high-pressure, high-responsibility nature of the industry. BPE Solicitors has put into practice a number of measures to help combat stress in the workplace, ranging from financial wellbeing resources to an open and inclusive culture.

Culture

HR’s door is always open, literally. BPE operate an open-door policy with HR and senior management sitting on the office floor. Creating an environment where people can share both the highs and the lows has been critical in reducing the impact of stress in the workplace. We promoted flexible and hybrid working before the pandemic and continue to do so, and we continually look for ways to make working in the law a career option with longevity. We recruit people that fit into our culture so it is important to advocate for that culture in every decision we make and so we try to put people at the heart of everything we do.

We regularly conduct staff surveys to seek to understand how our staff feel and how we can improve their working life. Understanding the stress faced by staff allows us to put tools into place to help combat the issues. BPE also recognises the importance of offering individual solutions as not everyone will experience or respond to stress in the same way. We encourage people to be themselves and that comes with endorsing solutions that are tailored where appropriate.

BPE proudly endorse people-first policies, ranging from a menopause policy to a supportive fertility treatment policy. In addition to this, BPE operate a generous bereavement policy because we recognise that it takes more than a day or two to be ready to return to the office.

BPE embraces wellbeing as an important part of the wellbeing strategy and often run wellbeing events during stressful times of the year including massages, reflexology, mocktail making and a pension surgery.

Resources

Whilst we have an open culture, we also like to provide our employees with a number of tools to help them manage their own wellbeing in the workplace. We understand that not all stress originates in the workplace, and we try to respond to the day-to-day pressures of life which is why we have just introduced a new financial wellbeing platform as we know this is a pressing issue for many.

We also offer an employee assistance line which provides a 24/7 helpline for employees to call because we recognise that employees sometimes need help which falls outside our expertise. To supplement this, we have a network of Mental Health First Aiders which we intend to grow to ensure that every level of the business feel they have someone appropriate to talk to if they wish to seek support outside of HR.

Training is offered to all employees to help upskill them and support them in looking after their own mental health and stress in the workplace. We continually run soft skills courses and will offer tailored solutions for employees where appropriate.

Wellbeing is an integral part of the way BPE operates and helps to create an open culture where employees know where to seek support and that support will be found if they need it.

Stress will always exist within the workplace but through listening to our staff, BPE have been able to implement resources and strategies to reduce stress and make work manageable for employees when they are experiencing it.

These notes have been prepared for the purpose of articles only. They should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice.