Your emotional well-being matters and this page is set up to define what emotional well-being awareness looks like at Camunda and how you can take care of yourself and your team.

In a remote environment, it can be challenging to notice emotional strains and signs can easily go unnoticed. At Camunda we encourage everyone to be mindful of their own as well as their colleagues’ well-being.

A] What Camunda can do

Company Culture

Camunda strives to create a safe and inclusive workplace. This is rooted in initiatives such as Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) as well as in our anti-harassment policy.

We carefully invest in social interactions such as the Company Retreat.

All this is with the aim to build a company culture that is supported by and reflects our FAITH Values.

Benefits and Perks

Employee benefits and perks are important, because they provide better experience for employees and increase satisfaction. While salary is important, other forms of compensation, whether they be benefits or unique perks, can often be even more effective to recruit and retain talent.

Benefits and perks aim to improve the quality of our employees’ lives, are crucial for a positive employee experience and can be a key competitive differentiator. A good set of employee benefits and perks at work help employees to stay happy, and a happy team tends to be more productive and creative.

Camunda’s current benefits and perks can be found here.

Awareness and Enablement

At Camunda, we aim to eliminate the stigma that still exists around many mental health disorders. We do this by including mental health awareness in our event calendar and making sure every Camundi has access to Modern Health as well as creating a culture that supports colleagues to talk about their experiences openly and without fear.

At the same time we aim to enable and educate our employees and leaders on the signs of emotional well-being and how to support team members and colleagues. Read on below for what you can do as well as what teams and managers can do.

B] What you can do

In a remote setting you work alone most of the time. But that doesn’t mean that you are alone at work. You do have colleagues that are available and can be easily contacted especially when you feel as if things are getting too much, you are stuck or feel like you are losing control.

You can also reach out to your People Business Partner if you are looking for support.

Here are some ideas on other ways you can focus on your holistic wellbeing! 

1. Practice self-awareness
   - Regularly check in with yourself to identify your emotions, stress levels, and overall well-being
   - Keep a journal to track your thoughts, feelings, and experiences
   - Reflect on what triggers stress or negative emotions and develop coping strategies

2. Prioritize self-care
   - Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as hobbies, reading, or spending time in nature
   - Establish a consistent sleep routine and aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night
   - Nourish your body with a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and limiting alcohol and caffeine intake
   - Incorporate regular physical activity into your schedule, whether it's a gym session, a walk, or a yoga class

3. Practice mindfulness and stress management techniques
   - Engage in mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation (try out Camunda sponsored Headspace or Modern Health!) 
   - Use positive self-talk and reframe negative thoughts
   - Break down overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable steps
   - Learn to say no to additional commitments when necessary to avoid overload

4. Foster meaningful connections
   - Regularly connect with friends, family, and other Camundi, even if it's virtual via a recurring coffee chat!
   - Participate in team-building activities and social events at work
   - Join communities or groups that align with your interests and values
   - Seek support from loved ones, colleagues, or mental health professionals when needed

5. Maintain a healthy integration between work and life
   - Set clear boundaries between work and personal life, especially because we work remotely
   - Take regular breaks throughout the workday to recharge and avoid burnout
   - Use your Flexible Time Off and prioritize time to disconnect from work and engage in activities that help you feel restored
   - Communicate your needs and challenges with your manager or team to find solutions together

6. Invest in personal and professional growth
   - Pursue learning opportunities that align with your interests and career goals (review our Professional Growth Benefit!!)
   - Attend workshops, webinars, or conferences to expand your knowledge and skills
   - Seek mentorship or guidance from experienced colleagues or industry professionals
   - Celebrate your achievements and milestones, no matter how small

7. Create a supportive work environment
   - Personalize your workspace with elements that inspire and uplift you, such as plants, artwork, or photos (make use of our Home Office Equipment budget!)
   - Maintain open communication with your manager and other Camundi you work closely with, sharing both successes and challenges
   - Offer support and encouragement to your team members, fostering a culture of empathy and collaboration
   - Advocate for your own well-being needs and those of your team

Remember, everyone's well-being journey is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Be patient and compassionate with yourself as you explore different strategies and find what resonates with you. Consistency and self-reflection are key to maintaining and improving your emotional well-being over time.

Signs to look out for 

Be mindful and keep an eye out for warning signs that indicate that you might be struggling with your emotional well-being.

These can include:

  • Feeling sad or down
  • Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
  • Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
  • Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
  • Withdrawal from friends and activities
  • Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
  • Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
  • Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
  • Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
  • Problems with alcohol or drug use
  • Major changes in eating habits
  • Sex drive changes
  • Excessive anger, hostility or violence
  • Suicidal thinking
  • Physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains

(Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968)

If you feel that any of these symptoms apply to you, reach out to your colleagues, health care provider or mental health charities. remember you have access to 8 coaching, and 8 therapy sessions via our global wellbeing provider, Modern Health.

Preventative measures

According to the Mental Health Foundation, UK’s leading charity for mental health,  these are some of the measures you can take to prevent problems with your emotional well-being:

(Source: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/prevention-and-mental-health)

There are other job-related suggestions to improve your emotional well-being:

  • Take time off (We encourage all Camundi to take off at least 30 days of FTO every year)
  • Schedule and take regular breaks during your work day.
  • Remove Slack and email from your smartphone or at least turn off notifications.
  • Set boundaries between work and home. (Workspace Rental)

C] What colleagues and managers can do

Managers and colleagues play an important role in recognizing when their reports or team members are emotionally unwell.

Noticing signs of emotional strains in a remote setup can be difficult. It is important for all Camundos to be mindful and recognize signs and behaviors that might point to their colleague’s struggles as well as leading by example and practicing preventative measures themselves.

The following is a list of actions that managers and colleagues can demonstrate to support their colleagues:

  • Create a safe environment where everyone can speak up and openly address issues related to their emotional well-being.
  • Encourage time off and take time off yourself. 
  • Lead by example and remove email and slack from your phone when you are off.
  • Encourage and participate in team building activities.
  • Recognize and celebrate achievements.
  • Offer and take part in coaching.
  • Remind colleagues of available emotional well-being resources.


DRI

Wesley Hattingh 

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