Wellbeing Hubs - Tips to Drive Awareness: Creating a Platform for Employees to Share Their Stories

The power of story telling enables employees to take action.

Summary

This initiative aims to create a platform for employees to share their personal or professional stories. The purpose is to foster a supportive and inclusive workplace environment by encouraging peer support, boosting morale, and enhancing overall wellbeing. By sharing experiences, employees can learn from one another, feel motivated, and find therapeutic value in storytelling. The potential impact includes a more connected and engaged workforce, improved mental health, and a stronger sense of community within the organisation.

Benefits of Sharing Stories

1. Encourages Peer Support: Employees can learn from each other's experiences and feel supported.
2. Boosts Morale: Hearing success stories can motivate and inspire other employees.
3. Enhances Wellbeing: Sharing personal stories can be therapeutic and promote mental health.

How to Start the Process

1. Identify Objectives: Clearly define what you hope to achieve by sharing these stories.
2. Select Channels: Choose appropriate channels for sharing stories, such as internal newsletters, company intranet, or social media platforms.
3. Gather Stories: Encourage employees to share their stories through surveys, interviews, or a dedicated email.

Steps to Implement

1. Create a Submission Process:
   • Develop a simple form for employees to submit their stories.
   • Ensure the process is confidential and respectful of privacy.
2. Curate and Edit:
   • Assign a team to review and edit the stories for clarity and coherence.
   • Obtain consent from employees before sharing their stories.
3. Promote the Stories:
   • Feature stories in company meetings, newsletters, and on the intranet.
   • Highlight stories during employee recognition events.

Tips for Success

1. Provide Guidelines: Offer clear guidelines on what kinds of stories you're looking for.
2. Celebrate Contributions: Recognize and celebrate employees who share their stories.
3. Ensure Inclusivity: Make sure all employees feel welcome to share, regardless of their role or background.
4. Confidentiality: Allow employees to share their stories anonymously if they prefer, ensuring that personal details are kept confidential.
5. Link these stories with your Wellbeing Hub: Encourage employees to share their stories during wellbeing sessions and use your Wellbeing Hub as a platform. If an employee relates to a certain topic, you can connect them with professionals in your Wellbeing Hub who have relevant expertise. For example, if an employee talks about their weight loss journey and how it was a struggle in their life and job, you can find professionals who focus on nutrition. At the end of the article or text, add links such as: “If you are struggling or have experienced this, we at {company name} support you by providing access to these amazing professionals: “List of professionals with links to their profiles.”

This integration can enhance the therapeutic value of storytelling and align it with the organisation's broader wellbeing initiatives.

Channels for Sharing

• Internal Newsletter: Create a dedicated section for employee stories.
• Intranet: Develop a hub where stories can be uploaded and accessed by all employees.
• Social Media: Share stories on the company's social media pages (with employee consent).

Promotion and Encouragement

1. Workshops: Hold workshops to educate employees on the importance of sharing stories.
2. Incentives: Offer incentives for employees who contribute their stories.
3. HR Involvement: Encourage HR managers to actively promote and support the initiative.

Final Thoughts

Implementing a process for sharing employee stories can significantly enhance the workplace environment. By following these steps and tips, HR managers can create a supportive and inspiring platform that benefits everyone in the organisation.