8 October at 4:00pm-6:30pm

Creating a Connected Workplace: Reducing Loneliness

Date: Tuesday 8 October
Time: 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: Hybrid - Janus Henderson Investors, London EC2M 3AE or Online

Register Now

Loneliness in the workplace is a growing concern with significant implications for employee wellbeing and organisational success. A comprehensive analysis of 300,000 people across 148 studies found that loneliness is linked to a 50% increase in mortality, making it as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and more harmful than obesity. Additionally, research by Mental Health UK revealed that one in five (20%) workers feel lonely at work on a typical day. What can organizations do to address this issue?

Join us for "Creating a Connected Workplace: Reducing Loneliness," a workshop designed to explore the impact of loneliness in the workplace and provide practical solutions for reducing these feelings among employees and creating connected workplaces.

Light food and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.

Key Topics Covered:

Understanding the Problem: The scope and impact of loneliness in the workplace.
Case Studies: Examples of how organisations have successfully created connected workplaces and reduced loneliness with a hybrid workforce.
Support Strategies: Effective ways to supporting hybrid employees and those experiencing loneliness.
Wellbeing Initiatives: Practical ideas for implementing wellbeing programs focussed on connection.
Strategies: Actionable ideas for fostering a psychologically safe and connected workplace.

Key Takeaways:

Insight into Loneliness: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of loneliness on employee wellbeing and workplace dynamics.
Best Practices: Learn from real-world case studies on creating a more connected workforce and reducing loneliness through innovative initiatives.
Practical Support: Discover actionable strategies for connecting and supporting employees in a hybrid world.
Implementation Ideas: Receive practical ideas and tools for implementing effective wellbeing initiatives within your organisation.

Chair

Anastasia Vinnikova, MindForward Alliance UK

Anastasia Vinnikova is an award-winning speaker, writer and mental health advocate. Driven by her own lived experience of mental illness, she is currently Head of Workplace Wellbeing at MindForward Alliance UK, where she works closely with members andstrategic partners, delivering the UK programme. Anastasia previously led the wellbeing agenda at the Bank of England, and spent 2 years onthe Commission for Equality in Mental Health with theCentre for Mental Health. Currently,Anastasia sits on the Samaritans External Engagement and Research Committee, as wellas acting as a Lived Experience Advisor on their Online Excellence Programme. More recently, Anastasia was appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Inspire UK, a smallcharity aiming to provide accessible mental health therapies. Anastasia has particular interest and expertise in mental health inequalities, workplace wellbeing, the mental health of young people, and wellbeing in the digital world.

Speakers

John Drummond, Founder & Human Behaviour Consultant, Human Centre

John is a consultant with 25 years of experience advising major organisations like O2, EDF Energy, NHS, and Unilever. He co-architected WRAP's RecycleNow and Love Food Hate Waste campaigns and was named one of HR magazine's most influential thinkers in 2021. An award-winning former journalist, he has authored multiple reports on organisational strategy and behavior change. He also chairs Corporate Culture and enjoys photography and songwriting.

Professor Simon Gilbody DSc FMedSci

Professor Simon Gilbody is a thought leader and entrepreneur in the field of mental health. Simon founded the Behavioural Therapeutics Lab at the University of York. He works with the NHS, businesses and the third sector to devise scalable and effective strategies to combat loneliness, work-stress, depression and anxiety. Simon remains a practicing NHS consultant in psychiatrist and cognitive behavioural therapist. During the COVID pandemic, Simon led the largest trial undertaken [ever and anywhere] to combat loneliness. Work patterns have changed since the pandemic, with a greater emphasis on hybrid and home working.

Attendees will gain a sense of the extent of loneliness in their hybrid workforce, and its economic and human cost. Simon will discuss ‘what works’ and ‘what is cost effective’ in combating workplace loneliness.

Andrew Baines-Vosper, Samaritans

Steve McCann, MCG Consulting

Steve McCann, Founder & Director of MCG Consulting, brings 18 years of experience in the legalindustry to his mission of creating healthier, more resilient workplaces. Through the CorporateMutual Aid Recovery (CMAR) programme, MCG Consulting mentors bothindividuals and entireorganisations, helping them address mental health and addiction challenges. A passionateadvocate for mentoring and wellbeing, Steve is also Deputy Chair at ReachOut and Chair of theNetwork DevelopmentGroup, empowering young people in under-resourced areas. He was thelead researcher on Arsène Wenger’s No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller"My Life in Red and White".Steve is a regular speaker on mental health and workplace recovery, wasthe Lawn TennisAssociation'sMental Health Championfor World Mental Health day and has featured innational media.

Who Should Attend:

HR professionals, managers, team leaders, and anyone interested in fostering a supportive workplace culture.

Register now to secure your spot and take a proactive step towards enhancing employee wellbeing and reducing loneliness in your workplace.

About the Host:

The Lord Mayor's Appeal is committed to building A Better City for All through its strategic pillars of Inclusive, Healthy, Skilled, and Fair. Through initiatives like This Is Me, we strive to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace and promote holistic wellbeing. For more information about the This is Me programme and access to free workplace wellbeing resources, register for the This is Me Resource Hub.