Wellbeing

GRI:[ ]
SDG: 
Goal 3 - Good health and well-being
Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth

We are responsible for ensuring that our employees feel good at work and are healthy. This goal is actively supported by our BeHealthy programme. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic we helped our employees to adapt to the new reality by targeting them with a range of activities.

  • GRI:
  • 403-6 Health promotion
    Health promotion
  • ESG: S – Society Society (Our approach to Social Responsibility)
    Society (Our approach to Social Responsibility)

Already in the first days of lockdown in March 2020, we started offering psychological support to employees in a pandemic situation. We organised:

  • helpline available on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays and an online chat from Monday to Friday;
  • series of online meetings with psychologists on „How to deal with emotions in these difficult times?”. The first round took place in the second quarter of 2020 and was addressed to Branch Banking employees who have direct contact with customers. The second round was organised in the last quarter of the year and was available to all bank employees;
  • wellbinars, i.e. webinars on selected topics, each time adapted to the needs of employees and organised in the form of meetings with experts in various fields.

For the past four years we have been implementing an internal programme called „BeHealthy” which is part of the Santander Group’s global initiative. The project is based on a holistic health model and its aim is to promote a healthy lifestyle and the idea of work-life balance. Under „BeHealthy” we conduct educational and motivational activities as well as grassroots health promotion actions (webinars with specialists, articles on healthy nutrition, ergonomics and active recreation). We have also launched a sports competition application for employees, thanks to which they can create their communities, share their passions, take up various challenges and motivate each other.

BeHealty in 2020

In response to the prevailing situation, we broadened the scope of the programme and focused on four main pillars:

  • physical health

  • mental health

  • successful relations

  • financial education

As part of BeHealthy, we carried out comprehensive well-being activities each month had a different leading theme and a tailored calendar of events:

  • August was the month of regeneration – we made sure to relax and deepen our knowledge about regeneration and healthy sleep.
  • September is back to school time, so we talked about the emotions of children and parents. We took care of the staff to make sure the energy from the summer months stayed with them for longer.
  • October was a time to reflect on mental health. The World Mental Health Day is in October, so we built a series of meetings and other activities (articles, workshops, trainings) around it to motivate employees and prepare them for the long autumn and winter evenings.
  • In November, we focused on prevention – we took care not only of the physical health of the bank’s employees, but also of the proper condition of their wallets.
  • And in December we focused on mindfulness and building successful relationships with ourselves and others.

Wellbeing has stayed with us for good!

Our wellbeing  programme was very much appreciated by the employees. That is why some of the activities have been introduced permanently into the offer for employees. Examples of the most popular options include the Monday recreational classes in yoga and MindSpa or the Wednesday and Thursday meetings with a physiotherapist. All classes are interactive and allow contact with the instructor.

In June 2020, we set up a well-being working group so that initiatives within the programme are organised even more efficiently.