How recognition plays a key role in enhancing staff well-being and mental wellness

We are living in times where extraordinary levels of changes (either good or bad) have become a way of life. This is true in the banking sector, where we have seen the industry going through transformations for quite some time now.

Well-being of employees has always been important for employers, even more so now during times of uncertainties. Staff well-being comes in many forms, including their physical health but also equally important in mental health.

Research by multiple organizations has shown that recognition leads to more engagement and in turn higher productivity. This has a domino effect on reducing negative stress at workplace and contributes in an impactful way to the mental well-being of employees. The recognition culture helps in the reinforcement of positive psychology and can mitigate or eliminate some of the mental health issues that have become very common. Therefore future focused employers around the world should also aim at creating a culture in which every worker feels valued, respected and set up for success.

Recognition is a culture we value at Societe Generale in the Asia Pacific region, especially true for a region where we have colleagues from diverse culture and background in multiple locations. To create a diverse and inclusive workplace, recognition and rewards must extend to everyone in the organization, from the most junior of associates to the C-Suite. And that’s where I see technology plays a great part as it enables great reach and also the fact that it transforms the way we communicate and interact with each other.

This is the reason we implemented a tool called “SPOTLIGHT” to create a strong culture of recognition. A community based digital tool, Spotlight serves as an useful platform to recognize and connect employees in the region, while spreading positivity within the company. It is also timely as we now may have less face time with each other due to remote working during the age of the pandemic. The feedback from our employees is so far positive. Simple to use, our colleagues use it to acknowledge each other for things big and small at work, from the fact that a meeting went well, to celebrating a project success or just a note to thank others for their help in their daily work. While not replacing face-to-face interactions, recognition through this tool also enhanced our “strength-based culture”, creating an environment conducive for mutual respect and collaboration, and also a strong staff community sharing strong team spirit.

I am proud to work in an organization where we care and take actions to improve the well-being of our colleagues. On the eve of the World Mental Health Day, I invite you to join me in spreading this culture of recognition. A simple smile or a token of thanks is free and extremely effective to lift our spirit.  Stay well and positive!

#worldmentalhealthday #MentalHealth