Publicis announces new Mental Health Policy and Aussie and NZ company-wide day off

Publicis Groupe Australia has announced its recognition as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2021. The announcement comes as Publicis Groupe ANZ also reveals a new mental health policy.

The award recognises organisations that develop leading workplaces that maximise the full potential of their workforce through established policies and practices, demonstrating effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention. Participants must outline their achievements across the key areas of Organisational Culture & Leadership; Education, Training & Development; Health, Safety & Satisfaction; Performance, Recognition & Remuneration.

Entries are assessed utilising a robust and dynamic framework to ensure the assessment process is pertinent and objective. The Employer of Choice Framework is utilised as a structured model of assessment that enables the participating organisations to be benchmarked against world-class performance standards.

Says Michael Rebelo, CEO, Publicis Groupe ANZ: “We are honoured to be recognised for the innovative thinking and collective efforts of our agency leaders and People & Culture team who are truly committed to creating a healthy, thriving and sustainable organisation.

“Creating a work environment that our people feel is magnetic, inspiring and progressive is an ongoing pursuit. We will always have more work to do – reviewing, adapting and refining our strategies and approaches to create a connected culture that enables our people and clients to grow and succeed. That’s the leadership challenge for the modern-day workplace.”

Publicis Groupe ANZ’s new mental health policy includes new Time in Lieu guidelines; changing Personal and Carer’s Leave to ‘Wellbeing Leave’ to reflect the need to support both people’s physical and mental health; and further increasing its number of staff trained as Mental Health First Aiders to a total of 107 across ANZ.

Publicis has taken the additional step of not only signing onto the recommended standards set by industry organisation, Mentally Healthy Change Group, but formally incorporating them into its company policy to ensure they are embedded in its practices.

Further, the company is launching the ‘Thrive’ leadership program, in partnership with Facebook Australia and human performance company, Energx. Thrive, which launched as a pilot program to support its Melbourne staff during last year’s extended lockdown, has been further developed to focus on training an initial group of ANZ Publicis managers. Critically, Thrive will take a data-led approach to devising team wellbeing plans to help prevent burnout, and also positively impact clients.

The latest developments come as Publicis announces that for the third year in a row, it will be taking a company-wide day off in Australia and New Zealand on Monday, October 11, in support of World Mental Health Day.

Pauly Grant, Publicis Groupe ANZ’s chief talent officer said that based on the company’s ‘Whole self’ philosophy, it creates programs and initiatives that are aligned to three pillars of wellbeing: supporting people mentally, physically, and financially: “We have made a collective, ongoing effort to make mental wellbeing a top priority as part of our organisation and culture – not only for one day or one month but habitually, in support of our people. We aim to reflect change in a way that is genuinely seen and experienced by our people at different touch points.

“It has never been more important to have in place a holistic framework that starts with breaking down the stigma of mental illness by encouraging open conversations, preventing discrimination and victimisation, and facilitating people’s active participation in a range of initiatives that support their personal and professional development.”