Business Mentality
Housing Association
Managing Support in a Housing Association
Background to contact with Business Mentality
Vic is the CEO of a housing association based in North London. He was recruited to this role in 2004 having served in a senior management role since 2000. The company employs some 12 staff - some are wholly office based whilst others also work off-site to carry out routine maintenance work and collect rent. Under the leadership of the CEO, the company has grown in size, housing stock and turnover.
Business Mentality was looking for a venue to host a workshop specifically targeting businesses from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Vic's organisation was mentioned as being in this group and having suitable facilities. The initial contact was therefore made with this agenda. Business Mentality staff were greeted and shown the facilities and then invited to meet with Vic.
Vic appeared as very supportive and keen to help other local ethnic minority businesses. He was also very interested in what Business Mentality had to offer and a meeting was set up for a 1-2-1 session.
Two weeks later, Vic met with a Business Mentality adviser. To kick off the meeting, Vic completed the 5 Minute Stress Check map for Small Organisations (a tool developed by Business Mentality which quickly assesses the manager's perception of 10 key areas related to workplace stress). The results demonstrated that Vic was up to date with legal and policy matters, that he took a proactive lead in the welfare of his staff and that he encouraged his staff with professional development and IT literacy (please see map and results attached).
From this initial meeting with Vic, it was clear that he understood the issues the project was promoting and was keen to use his position to be as supportive as possible, both within his own organisation and within the community.
Issues
Vic discused various current issues which he felt Business Mentality might be able to help with.
- He wanted to offer his staff training in recognising the signs and symptoms of stress so that they could support themselves and their colleagues better. In order to demonstrate management commitment to dealing with the issue, Vic made it clear that he would join with his staff in attending the training.
- He was interested in the development of a company stress policy.
- Vic had concerns regarding one particular member of staff who had been on long term sick leave but was not communicating with the company regarding his illness or any intention to return to work. This was becoming a source of stress and concern for the other members of staff and he wanted to seek legal advice to ensure correct procedures were being followed. The company had successfully defended itself in a previous case that had resulted in an industrial tribunal, so Vic was well aware of the disruption and additional pressure such actions bring to bear on other members of staff and on management overall.
Intervention
Being a manager of a small enterprise, Vic was mindful of the time and associated costs of training. He asked for information on online / video training resources which staff could readily access at suitable times, but this was not within Business Mentality's remit to provide.
However, the workshop which was planned to take place on Vic's company premises was set to include a keynote presentation by an Employment Law specialist ( a partner at a firm of local solicitors with which Business Mentality had a collaborative arrangement) and Vic was assured that this would provide him with appropriate legal advice.
The workshop was scheduled to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day and it drew the highest number of delegates in the Business Mentality workshop programme.
Vic attended with 5 members of his staff and by the end everyone reported a greater awareness and understanding of what stress is, how to recognise it, how to mitigate against it and how to manage it within teams. Vic received accurate and appropriate legal advice relating to the employee on long term sick leave.
Vic also received information and guidance published by HSE and a sample stress policy.
Comments from client:
'We were delighted to take part in the event. It gave us a chance to raise our profile within the business community. Moreover, the Business Mentality workshop provided us with a cost effective training solution and has alerted both me and my staff to the causes of workplace stress. It was useful to hear and share concerns with my peers from small organisations belonging to different sectors. The presentation and advice from the employment law specialist was particularly useful.
The company will be developing a stress policy and I will be looking to carry out a stress risk assessment to identify any hot spots. The Business Mentality advisers are very in tune with the needs and constraints of small businesses and I will be reporting the learning to our management committee.'
Comments from Business Mentality
Firstly, the project owes Vic a big 'thank you' for his generous hospitality in providing excellent facilities for the event. The sizeable space afforded Business Mentality the opportunity to set up a reception area and lunch area, and comfortably accommodated over 40 delegates for the duration of the workshop. Vic also provided two members of staff who served breakfast on arrival and refreshments throughout the morning.
By taking a proactive approach in staff development and support, Vic clearly demonstrates that this is a priority for him. The company has benefitted from their commitment, loyalty and goodwill and from their perspective have been rewarded with better pay, better conditions and overall improved wellbeing at work.
Vic has a background in finance but it does not take an accountant to see that treating staff well costs little in monetary terms but the returns on the bottom line can certainly be significant.
For more information please contact:
Sue Temple or Mukesh Gohil
Business Mentality
020 8444 7910