Promoting wellness and mental health in a remote workforce: Achmea Australia's 'We're All Ears' approach
Achmea Farm Insurance
Achmea Farm Insurance is committed to keeping farmers farming
In September, our “We’re All Ears” Committee ran a series of impactful virtual sessions dedicated to mental health and wellness. These sessions aimed to support employees in establishing daily habits of self-care that offer long-term wellbeing benefits.
The "We're All Ears" Committee is made up of a diverse representation of Achmea Farm Insurance employees across various functional teams. Despite the geographical distances, it is the shared commitment that unites the Committee. Its mission is to foster a workplace culture of support, empathy, and mental wellbeing.
“We’re All Ears” is about asking people if they’re ok, but it goes beyond that – it is about being genuinely present and available for them, even when the answer may be “no, I am not ok”.
Guided by our IT Business Analyst Penny McDermott, who is also our resident wellness enthusiast, the Committee ran several optional virtual sessions focused on mindfulness practices. Mindfulness teaches us to pause and be present in the moment, a practice that can help improve our focus, reduce stress, and enhance wellbeing.
With our teams spread across both rural and metropolitan Australia, virtual sessions remain an excellent way for us to check in, connect with and support each other.
In addition to the mindfulness sessions, Penny hosted a session exploring how we “present” ourselves and how our posture can directly influence our mood and our mind.
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Leigh, one of our Victorian-based Farm Insurance Specialists, hosted ‘Loud Shirt Tuesday’ where we showcased our loudest, brightest shirts to spark conversations that promote mental well-being whilst promoting the work of our “We’re all ears” Committee.
“This year, we wanted to provide staff with the opportunity to start a conversation, to connect, but also to empower and to build resilience in a fun and welcoming environment,” said Penny. "The attendance, engagement and feedback has been really positive, and we are now working on ways in which these sessions can become a permanent part of our workplace and our culture,” she said.
To cap off the week, Mark Vayro, our Business Development Manager for Queensland, led a “Day in the Life” session, where employees across the country joined Mark virtually on his farm in South-East Queensland. As a farmer, Mark offered insights into his experience of seasonality, journeying the highs and lows of farming. He shared his personal experience navigating his farming business and mental impacts of the hot and dry weather, inflation and the looming bushfire season. This valuable session provided employees across the country with a glimpse of what our Farm Insurance Specialists and clients experience on a daily basis.
In appreciation of their efforts in helping to cultivate a supportive environment of continuous improvement, we thank our “We’re All Ears” Committee:
Claims Manager
1 年Great sessions! ??
Senior Farm Insurance Specialist at Achmea Australia
1 年Great team work
Farm Insurance Specialist @ Achmea Australia
1 年Sessions were fabulous thanks to the committee.