Platform Housing Group is one of the largest landlords and developers of social housing in the country. Alongside its ambitious development programme the group is an adopter of the sector’s Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS).

Below is a case study from Platform in which it demonstrate how it meets theme 11 of the SRS: physical and mental health of staff.

Physical and mental health of staff

This year Platform restructured its HR department to create a dedicated employee relations and wellbeing team for overseeing the physical and mental wellbeing of staff. The team deliver weekly updates and initiatives to colleagues and provide guidance to colleagues and managers, monitored through employee engagement and wellbeing surveys, sickness absence monitoring and health and safety incident reporting. Monthly KPIs are reported to the executive and board. A number of wellbeing practices and support mechanisms are made available including:

• Comprehensive occupational health services
• Employee Assistance Programme provision
• Healthcare cash plans
• Mental health first aid training and coaching
• Mandatory health and safety training
• Leave arrangements, such as bereavement leave and urgent domestic leave
• Regular health checks for our workforce
• Opportunities for flexible working

In addition to the above, the group holds regular wellbeing events throughout the year.

All employees are encouraged to take part and activities have included helping people to learn a new language, getting outside for a walk and sharing stories of how colleagues have been supporting their local communities.