Publicis Groupe Australia + NZ launch new staff support program on World Mental Health Day
Publicis Groupe Australia and New Zealand has today announced it will close its doors for the day on October 10, in support of World Mental Health Day.
The 1,800 employees of the marketing, communication and digital transformation group will be given the day off as part of a broader mental health program in Australia and New Zealand.
Says Michael Rebelo, CEO, Publicis Groupe ANZ: “Publicis Groupe is absolutely committed to ensuring our people can thrive in a mentally healthy workplace.”
The program is being driven by Publicis Groupe ANZ’s Next Generation Board. One of the board’s aims is to create a positive community impact by identifying and addressing social initiatives that intersect with the business.
The program also includes quarterly happiness health check surveys used to develop wellness initiatives, mental health first aid training, an employee assistance program, and a broader series of events leading up to 10 October, including yoga, meditation and boxing classes for staff; as well as ongoing initiatives throughout the year.
The mental health program covers Publicis Groupe’s businesses including Arc, Digitas, Digitas Affinity ID, Herd MSL, Leo Burnett, Marcel, MBM, MercerBell, Performics, Prodigious, Publicis Sapient, Publicis Sport & Entertainment, Saatchi & Saatchi, Spark Foundry, Starcom and Zenith.
Employees with critical commitments on World Mental Health Day will be able to opt out and instead enjoy another day off this year.
Says Pauly Grant, chief talent officer, Publicis Groupe ANZ: “The happiness and health of our people is paramount to Publicis Groupe, and we wanted to give our people the day to reflect and focus on their own mental health.”
Publicis Groupe Next Generation Board member Bianca Wallis said the mental health program was inspired by research from the social purpose organisation UnLtd and Publicis Groupe ANZ’s own staff surveys.
Says Wallis: “For the Next Generation Board’s first initiative, we felt it was critical to focus on something that could have an immediate, direct impact on our talent. We knew we could do that by focusing on mental wellness and happiness.”
World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
6 Comments
News Flash:
giving people a day off work after driving them into the ground on exhaustive and illegal hours , stressful conditions and daily late exits will not be solved with one day off. Stop bending over to clients 24/7 whims and start to protect your staff from a life of meaningless stress induced mental health issues by regulating hours and expectations.
A PR exercise not a solution to a systemic problem.
And then tomorrow a 16 hour day due all the work needed to be done asap… pathetic
I am a Publicis Groupe employee – and to say having this day off helped is an understatement.
I spent the day for me. I worked hard to make this day happen and I took it as it was meant to be taken.
I never get a day in the week or even on weekends, where I can put myself first due to my life commitments outside of work.
Yes, we work long hours and yes, we all work hard – thats the industry.
But to work for a company who for one day, shut shop to allow us to breathe – was more appreciated than I can put in to words.
And the best part, clients understood and extremely respectful of this initiative.
“We work long hours and yes, we all work hard – that’s the industry” is the real problem…
Don’t knock, it’s a step in the right direction, I am also a Publicis employee and have mental health problems. I’ve had nothing but support from Publicis for which I’m extremely grateful. Big shout out goes to Mike, Toby, Gary and last but not least Dan.