Wilson James wins prestigious 2020 Inspiration in HR Award

Wilson James’ winning entry focused on the company’s efforts to ensure the well-being of its 5,000-plus employees during the Coronavirus pandemic and how the business has dealt with the unique challenges the situation has presented (and, indeed, continues to present). The HR team has worked closely with the company’s learning, communications and operational departments to devise and implement a range of initiatives specifically designed to help maintain high levels of mental and physical health and, just as importantly, recognise and react when people are struggling.

The ‘Keeping Well’ initiative comprises a series of video and print resources – configured in association with Mind – covering subjects such as working from home, keeping active and healthy, eating well, avoiding fake news and conspiracy theories and managing stress and anxiety. It provides practical tips about how members of staff can manage their manage mental health and remain positive by taking part in activities such as yoga, meditation and online volunteering or betting creative through art, gardening and cooking.

Library of resources

Designed to benefit everyone, regardless of active duty/furlough status, and inclusive of diverse needs, this library of resources is housed on Wilson James’ proprietary learning platform, designed ‘The WJ Hub’, which has presided over a 51% increase in traffic since March.

Communication and engagement with employees is vital. That being so, Wilson James introduced weekly ‘Keeping Well’ webinars on a range of well-being topics. In addition, ‘The WJ Hub’ hosts Wellness Wednesdays and Fun Fridays including events for children and resources for home-schooling parents, and has also partnered with The Well-Being Project to deliver personalised resilience training to 400 managers across the organisation.

Regular contact

‘Keeping Well’ has been embraced throughout the company, with senior management regularly sending out electronic newsletters and hosting online Q&As and Town Hall meetings, while managers have kept in regular contact with team members to tell them what’s happening across the organisation.

‘Keeping Well’ has been financed internally by the business which has diversified its delivery systems and platforms Wilson James has successfully supplied staff resources across all service lines, empowered managers to cope with the needs of their teams and created values-led engagement during a period of crisis for the nation. The benefits have been extraordinary and have included improved industrial relations and client confidence.

In the wake of Wilson James being named the winner of the Inspiration in HR Award for 2020, Rosa Osman (the company’s learning and development manager) commented: “I’m delighted that our efforts have been recognised in this way. Our aim in developing this ambitious well-being programme was to support our people during these challenging times and deliver multiple initiatives that can have a positive impact on them and their families. Well-being is fully embedded into the Wilson James ethos and, as well as being good for business, it’s simply the right thing to do.”