Make It Count: BCAA Leads by Participation
BCAA is a great example of a workplace where visibility of mental health disabilities and leadership buy-in promoted a more inclusive workplace culture.
BCAA launched an awareness campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week to prompt employee discussion.
The campaign kicked off with a “Mental Health in the Workplace” presentation that was available for all employees to attend, and was mandatory for all BCAA leaders. The presentation included a video featuring BCAA employees talking about steps they took to support their mental health and stay balanced.
A new, customized wellness area of BCAA’s employee intranet was launched as a central hub containing information and real-life stories.
One very successful element of the website has proved to be an online discussion area where numerous employees have chosen to share personal challenges they’ve set themselves to work on their mental wellness and work/life balance, along with tips and ideas.
Through a major storytelling initiative, several employees shared their mental health experiences in their own words in a series of intranet homepage feature stories.
Their personal accounts of journeys through challenges, including anxiety, depression, and grief, highlighted uplifting recovery stories and the importance of speaking out and seeking help. These stories attracted high levels of engagement, with hundreds of ‘likes’ and comments posted by colleagues.
Lesson to apply
Participation and vulnerability of your leadership team encourages staff engagement.
The opportunity to share stories increases awareness, builds trust, and even shifts attitudes in the workplace.
This excerpt is from the Make It Count Guide, which accompanied the inaugural 2021 year of Accessible Employers’ Pledge to Measure. Make sure to check out the full length Guide for further case studies, data, and insight from BC’s inclusive employer community.