ResilientME: Building a Resilient Workforce

Krystyna McIntosh

National WHS Manager

Agenda

Minter Ellison

Industry health trends

Minter Ellison’s ResilientME program

Happy Body at Work

What have we learnt?

Minter Ellison

Total workforce 1,639 people 203 partners and 687 legal staff Office locations

– Australia: Adelaide*, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin*, Gold Coast*, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

– Asia: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ulaanbaatar – New Zealand: Auckland*, Wellington* – Europe: London

– [*Associated offices that operate as members of The

Minter Ellison Legal Group]

Mental health in the Legal industry

Lawyers are at a greater risk of suffering depressive symptoms than any other group of professionals in Australia

Suicide is a real risk

This is accompanied by a: – Reluctance to seek help for mental health issues

– General stigmatisation of mental health

Source - 2009 Brain & Mind Institute Survey

ResilientME The six domains of resilience

Resilience

Physical

Social

Cognitive

Emotional

Moral

Spiritual

Black Dog Institute, 2011

ResilientME Intranet Site

ResilientME Calendar

Training

Graduate LifeSkills program

Mental Health awareness training – Key Partners/Manager, People & Development – General EAP sessions all staff

Lunchtime information sessions on health & wellbeing topics.

Firm encourages work/life balance

Maintaining health & wellbeing

Flexible work practices

Community Investment Program

Happy Body at Work animation

Happy Body At Work

Pre Program Survey

Topics – Moving more, sitting less and relaxing tension

– Relax your neck

– Stop slumping at your desk

– Easing backache

– Recognise your stress signals

– Sleep secrets; stop waking and worrying

– Travelling

Post Program Survey

Happy Body at Work Pre Program Survey

Stress

Sleep

Exercise

Energy

Happy Body at Work Final Survey Results

Nearly 90% found the program relevant to home and work life

75% talked about the program to family, friends and colleagues

Final Survey Results What strategies are we using?

40% are trying to sit less

64% are trying to move more

42% are working on sleep routines

17% are learning to recognise when they are getting stressed

Final Survey Results What results are we seeing?

75% are moving more and sitting less

35% are working on sleep habits

30% are still struggling with sleep

60% have learned some habits to help sleep routines

70% now have strategies to deal with aches and pains

65% are more aware of stress indicators

Final Survey Results Long term habits

20% sit less

32% move more

28% work on sleep routines

15% learn to deal with stress

5% still not sure

ResilientME What Works

Have a holistic program

Embed the program in your culture

Management Support

Timing and length of seminars

Keep staff engaged and tailor program to needs

Work with the provider

Focus on the strengths and abilities of staff to own and build their resilience

Questions?