To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, management at Rockliffe Hall have organised a range of initiatives for its team to further enhance the wellbeing support already available.
Jason Adams, Managing Director of five star Rockliffe Hall near Darlington, County Durham, says: “Our team is the resort’s biggest asset and their wellbeing has always been our top priority. Long before this pandemic we put our team members before anything else and offered various initiatives, including access to Hospitality Action’s Employee Assistance Programme, use of our Mind Therapy Room and ongoing support when needed.”
“In these challenging times, our team’s wellbeing is even more important and those who haven’t been furloughed have been busy organising and generating many ways in which we can support every team member.”
During Mental Health Awareness Week, Fitness Manager, Peter Bell, will be hosting a Mental Wellbeing Zoom Workshop for the team to increase their understanding of the importance of keeping the mind mentally fit. He will also teach them how to meditate and will give tips on how to keep positive and motivated.
Later in the week, one of the hotel’s Executive Chefs, Aaron Craig, will host a Live Zoom Cook Along too. Aaron says: “Home cooking has a great impact on our mental wellbeing. When we bake or cook we use the creative side of our brains, focusing our minds in a positive way. We also benefit from the endorphins released by feelings of accomplishment and enjoyment, and sharing our creations with loved ones. It will be great for all the team to cook ‘together’!”
Team members are also receiving a twice-weekly newsletter containing picture galleries of what individuals have been up to, wellness tips, recipes, blogs, advice to help keep spirits up and a sense of togetherness, despite being furloughed or working from home. The team has also been encouraged to submit suggestions for a weekly Spotify playlist with various themes including Love Songs, Songs to Sing in the Shower and Guilty Pleasures.
As well as regular training calls, team members have been taking part in video calls to play games of charades, bingo and quizzes, and to virtually have a celebratory drink together each Friday.
The HR Team at Rockliffe Hall has also been further developing the Employee Wellbeing programme. Last week it sent out an anonymous wellbeing survey to the entire team, which will shape plans for how to reopen the hotel, taking into account each team member’s needs and concerns.
Graham Chambers, HR Manager, says: “We will use the survey results to shape our training and induction programme as we start to welcome members back in to working life as parts of the business reopen.”