Shared Services Connected Ltd’s Post

👉 Europ Assistance Portugal was awarded "Best Wellbeing Program" in the category of companies with 251 to 1000 employees at the third edition of the Wellbeing Awards. 🏆 This recognition underscores the company’s commitment to placing the health and well-being of its employees at the heart of its corporate strategy. ❤️ The Wellbeing Awards emerged as a direct response to the need to recognize and promote organizations with ‘people first’ policies. Conducted by WorkWell, this initiative aims to value companies that implement health, wellbeing, and happiness programs based on practical evidence and quality processes. 🌟 Susana Alves, Chief Human Resources & Organization Officer at Europ Assistance Portugal, states: “At Europ Assistance, the well-being of our employees is the foundation of our success and one of the essential pillars of our strategy. We are proud to receive this recognition and motivated to continue promoting balance and happiness at work. Above all, it reflects the dedication of our entire team and the continuous support from top management, who have always believed in and upheld our commitment to well-being.” This award is another significant milestone in the company’s journey, which remains committed to creating a positive and inspiring work environment. It promotes a culture of health and balance that benefits not only the employees but also the company as a whole.  #WellbeingAwards #EmployeeWellbeing #EuropAssistance #WorkplaceHappiness #HealthAndBalance #PeopleFirst

Fantastic initiative from KPMG leveraging employee data to proactively identify colleauges at risk of burnout or poor mental health 👀 It showcases the power of data-driven strategies and underscores the importance of organizational accountability for employee wellbeing. We can encourage sustainable performance, emphasizing the importance of rest and PTO but we are rewiring decades of engrained thinking and behaviours. Shifting the mindset from 'work harder' to 'work smarter and healthier' is a monumental task, but initiatives like this pave the way to reshape organizational practices, and fostering a healthier and more productive working environments. Excited to see how technology and AI will continue to drive innovation in our field! 🌱🚀 #EmployeeWellbeing #DataDriven #workplacewellbeing

🎉 Make sure you celebrate your 2024 successes! There have been a lot of ups and downs this year for me, sometimes even in the same day! This year I: 🆕 Started a new role at SuperWellness Ltd 🖼️ Helped re-frame our offering to be more 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 and less solutions based 👩🏫 Designed, reviewed, and continuously improved our 1-day 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 💚 Trained 80 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 via the above and created a community for them to share resources and best-practice; and receive ongoing learning sessions 🧠 Trained over 100 people to become 𝗠𝗛𝗙𝗔𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 or refresh their knowledge 📃 Ran 12 free 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 sessions, helping 100s of individuals understand more about wellbeing strategy 🗺️ Launched our 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗽 - the first of its kind in the UK to help guide individuals on what it means to be successful and develop in the role! 📑 Started the #WellbeingAtWorkJobs thread to keep everyone abreast of new wellbeing roles on Linkedin 5️⃣ Started writing our Level 5 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 coming next year! It might seem from the outside that these achievements happened without any issues, but believe me there has been stress, tight deadlines, continuous editing, and frantic typing. 🤹♂️ All of this whilst juggling a busy personal life on top! 🎺 And although this might seem like I'm blowing my own trumpet, one thing I've learnt this year is the importance of reflection and celebration. Life can be stressful enough without celebrating the successes! ❓ So 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿? Pop it in the comments so we can celebrate together 👇 And finally - Wishing everyone reading this a very happy festive season, however you spend it, and here's to a great 2025 🎄 #WorkplaceWellbeing #WellbeingAtWork #WellbeingLead

Daily Schedule: 9:00 am: Start my workday. I check my emails and voicemails and begin working through my to-do list. 9:30 am: Take out my dog, Smokey, for his first walk of the day. 10:00 am: On Tuesdays, I have a check-in with Beth, MSSA’s Executive Director. We discuss how projects are going, what I need help with/input on, and bring up anything new in the last week that we need to be on the same page on. 10:45 am: Continue working through my to-do list. Between December and April, when MSSA staff are at their busiest, it’s typical to spend the day answering questions about the Annual Conference & Expo. There are so many elements to planning, promoting, and executing the conference: On a given day in January, I will register hundreds of conference attendees and sponsors, troubleshoot website issues, and process membership and block rate payments. January is also when scholarship applications come in; I review each one for eligibility before assigning them to committee members. In the spring and summer, I have time to work on longer-term projects, like strategic planning for our awards and scholarships programs and improving our database and use of technology. 12:30 pm: Daily check-in with MSSA staff. Check-ins are a time for us to share our daily priorities and talk through any challenges we’re having. 1:00 pm: I check the [email protected] inbox periodically throughout the day. I answer most of the questions members send there; the rest I forward to my colleagues. 2:00 pm: Lunch break and another walk for Smokey. 3:00 pm: I block off 3:00-5:30 p.m. each day for uninterrupted time. I find this period is when I am most focused and can get the most done. During this block, I might work on more rote tasks, like manually updating lots of member data. If I have put something off from earlier in the day, I will finish it at this time before I can call it a day. 6:00 pm: Go to the gym. I will either attend a yoga class or do a combination of weightlifting and cardio. 7:15 pm: Cook and eat dinner, then spend time with my partner and dog. We might watch a movie or TV show together, or I might work on a crochet project or read a book… or spend too much time on TikTok! 11:00 pm: Bedtime!

Today I had the pleasure of being a panelist at the Hilldrup Forum dedicated to helping provide tools to organizations to help make relocation a less stressful event for employees. I was there speaking about the nervous system and how to help team members avoid burnout.👇 Relocating is one of the biggest stressors a human can go through. Uprooting their life for a new job can be a jarring experience. Especially if that person is moving to a new country without their familiar community, culture, or frequent places they attend that help support them (restaurants, grocery stores, practitioners, gyms, yoga studies). By providing your team the tools and support before, during, and after you can help them feel more regulated through the process vs, overwhelmed and out of control. An added perk: the sense of community they will be able to continue to cultivate through a group wellness program can help them recognize they are not alone in the process. 👉Thankful to see organizations like Hilldrup and the leaders attending the Forum today being open to learning, growing, and understanding how to best support their employees! If you are leader within an organization that puts employee wellbeing as a priority, I'd love to help you support your leaders, and your teams! Email [email protected] to discuss your next event!

Most of the organisations that took part in a 61-company, six-month trial in the UK of the four-day week, have made the policy permanent. The trial, which covered 3,000 workers, taking place between June and December 2022, has been described as the world’s largest four-day week experiment. It was run by nonprofit 4 Day Week Global and the thinktank Autonomy. Fresh research has revealed that of the 61 organisations that took part in the UK, 54 (89%) were still operating the policy a year later (December 2023), and 31 (51%) had made the change permanent. More than 100 firms undertook the trial across the world. The analysis, by researchers at Boston College in the US and a sociology expert at University College Dublin, found that more than half (55%) of project managers and chief executives agreed that a four-day week – in which staff worked 100% of their output in 80% of their time – produced multiple benefits on their organisations. More than three-quarters of respondents (82%) said the four-day week had improved wellbeing, half found it reduced staff turnover, while a third (32%) said it improved recruitment. Productivity had improved according to nearly half of those asked (46%). The research’s authors said the main reason employees had maintained productivity in the four-day week is that companies had decreased or cut activities with questionable or low value. They said: “Meetings – a traditional source of complaints among employees and managers alike – have been a major target in this reorganisation, with personnel turning to phone calls, messaging apps, or other means of communication.” The other key to increased productivity, they noted, was that four-day week employees tended to use their third day off for doctor’s appointments or other personal errands they would otherwise try to cram into a workday. Employees also reported devoting the extra day off to hobbies and leisure activities, household work and personal grooming, all of which often contributed to good mental health and general life satisfaction. Almost all workers (96%) on the trial said their personal life had benefited, and 86% believed their performance at work had improved. A significant proportion (38%) felt their organisation had become more efficient, and 24% said it had helped with caring responsibilities. Companies needed to be mindful that what worked for some businesses might not work for others. Matthew Percival, a director at the Confederation of British Industry, echoed this by saying the four-day week was not a “one-size-fits-all answer” and would be “unlikely to pay for itself in many industries”. He said: “If businesses have the budget to add to their offer to employees, then they will be considering the relative merits of reducing working hours compared to increasing pay, pensions or paid parental leave.” [Personnel Today] #employment #workinghours #4dayweek #cbi

As we get deeper into the holiday season, many companies are planning festive celebrations to bring employees together. While these events can be a great way to foster camaraderie, it’s worth considering an important question: Are employees feeling connected—or obligated? In my experience working with individuals and teams, many employees report feeling pressured to attend holiday events out of obligation rather than genuine interest. And while the intent behind these celebrations is positive, forced connections can have unintended consequences: 🔸 Increased Stress: For employees managing personal obligations or simply feeling burnt out, mandatory or strongly encouraged events can add to their mental load. 🔸 Surface-Level Engagement: Genuine connection doesn’t come from participation by obligation. Employees are less likely to feel a sense of belonging when they don’t have the choice to opt in or out freely. 🔸 Exclusion and Discomfort: For employees who are introverted, neurodivergent, or culturally different, traditional holiday celebrations might not resonate—or worse, they may feel isolating. So, how can HR leaders create meaningful, inclusive celebrations without the pressure? 💡Ideas for Rethinking Corporate Holiday Events: 1️⃣ Offer Options: Create multiple ways to engage, such as smaller group activities, virtual options, or even volunteer opportunities instead of a single large event. 2️⃣ Ask for Input: Let employees help shape the celebrations so they reflect the team’s diverse interests and needs. 3️⃣ Make Attendance Truly Optional: Set the tone that opting out is perfectly acceptable, without fear of judgment or missed opportunities. 4️⃣ Focus on Connection Year-Round: Employees feel a stronger sense of belonging when connection is embedded into the culture—not just a seasonal effort. Let’s rethink what connection looks like in the workplace. When employees are given the freedom to engage authentically, the impact lasts far beyond the holiday season. 💡 How does your organization approach holiday celebrations? I’d love to hear your ideas or experiences! #CorporateCulture #HRLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #InclusiveWorkplace #CorporateWellness #HolidayCelebrations

Dear HR and Employee Wellness Leads (and anyone else who is already feeling festive burnout 🎅 ), Look, I know the last thing you want to think about right now is January. Especially when you’re knee-deep in Christmas party planning and speculating on the drama you’re going to have to deal with AT and AFTER the office party. But why not get ahead and organise something for January that your workforce will actually thank you for? I hate January (being such a Christmas gal). I know that the post-holiday slump + dreary days + zero money + the thought of New Year’s resolutions can leave people feeling flat, stressed and disconnected. Which is why now is the perfect time to get something booked in that will do the heavy lifting for you - giving employees a chance to reset, refocus, and recharge. A workplace sound bath is more than just relaxation. It’s an immersive, science-backed experience that is made for January: 🤯 Reduce stress and lowers cortisol levels 🤩 Promote mental clarity and focus 😊 Help staff feel reconnected and energised. Imagine giving your team 60 minutes of calm amidst the January blues  - time to help them to start the year with renewed energy. Alimak Group AB recently did it and it went down a treat. 💡 Why wait? Book now to secure your January session. Let’s make 2025 the year we prioritise workplace well-being together. DM me or visit my website (links in my profile) to find out more about House of Butterfly sound baths and how they can transform your team’s start to the year. And if you want to come to one of my local sound baths in East or North London, check out the events page on my website. 🦋

What a business week ahead! I'm thrilled to share that my calendar is brimming with exciting events this week, each promising to be both enriching and exhilarating if any of my contacts are due to be at any of these events if you see me be sure to say hello! Here’s a sneak peek: - Tuesday & Wednesday: I'll be immersing myself in the latest insights at the Health and Wellbeing at Work Conference at the NEC. It's an event I think I have attended yearly for over a decade for an unparalleled opportunity to explore latest strategies for fostering workplace wellness. - Thursday by day: The day takes an interactive turn as I step up to share my thoughts at a vibrant networking event. I'm looking forward to connecting with fellow professionals and sparking meaningful conversations. - Thursday by night: The tempo changes as I trade insights for dance moves at the CMSUK Dinner Dance. It's time to let loose and celebrate the incredible work done by case management professionals through the UK. Expect a night filled with laughter and long overdue catchups. - Friday: Rounding off the week, I’ll be at the CMSUK Conference, delving into the latest trends and innovations in case management and if anyone is interested in hearing about the great work of Champion Health Plus just let me know. It's going to be a week of learning, networking, and, of course, a bit of shape-throwing! I’m eager to absorb every moment, share knowledge, and connect with many of you there. Let’s make this week memorable! #HealthAndWellbeing #Networking #CMSUKConference #ProfessionalGrowth

🌟 Keep people inspired 🌟 is the new KPI in business and has been for a long time now, as companies understood the importance of boosting employees engagement and wellbeing. One thing is certain, if your team thrives, so will your business. Edenred offers the perfect solution to engage, educate and empower employees with the launch of Wellbeing+, a new feature integrated into the Edenred | Reward Gateway offering. Wellbeing+ is designed to help our client companies foster a thriving workplace by supporting a happier, healthier workforce that drives business success. Engagement is at the heart of everything we do. With Wellbeing+, we’re not just enhancing wellness; we’re creating a more engaged and motivated team. This solution empowers employees to take charge of their wellbeing, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. Stay tuned for the official launch coming soon. We can’t wait to share more with you! #welbeeing+ #EmployeeEngagement #enrichconnectionsforgood