Supporting One Another – R U OK Day

At Energy Safe, our people are committed to fostering a supportive and compassionate workplace. We embrace flexible arrangements and hybrid working styles to accommodate parents, carers and all lifestyles, empowering our people to achieve a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.

On R U OK Day, we encourage our people to check in with one another and create space to have meaningful conversations about mental health. We recognise the resources and tools available to support one another – and to seek help if we need to – and how we can improve our use of these.

We spoke with our people about supporting those who might be struggling, the practical steps to take when offering support, and how we can work together to normalise mental health conversations both at work and beyond.

What steps do you take to look after your own mental health?

It's the simple things for me, like stepping away from what’s consuming me and making time to hang out with the kids, grab a drink with my partner or walk the dog. Making music has always been a great leveller for me personally, distancing myself from the white noise and creating noise of my own has always been good for my mental health. You would be surprised how cathartic smashing drums can be!

– Dan, Line Clearance Manager

I play sport outside of work. To alleviate work related stress, I debrief with co-workers, which is usually enough to set me back on the straight and narrow.

– Steve, Gas Compliance Officer

They tell you when you’re working with or for NDIS services that taking self-care steps is important. It sounds obvious when you hear it, like telling a child they have to breathe. Practice has always been difficult for me. To me, self-care is knowing and doing the things that make you happy even if you feel like you don’t have the energy, and sometimes deciding what matters more to you for that day.

Do you give yourself have that extra hour (or two) of sleep in the morning? Or do I make sure I do the things that make me happy with that time instead? Making that decision often decides what my self-care looks like, and often my answer changes.

– Joseph, Content Writer

When I’m at work, I like to go for a walk during my lunch break.

– Steven, Finance Business Partner

I regularly reach out to my manager and peers to discuss workload and stress, both mine and theirs. I find that by regularly checking in and seeking support in terms of priorities and workload, I minimise the likelihood of becoming overwhelmed. I also try to exercise, read and catch up with friends on a regular basis however getting the balance right is a constant work in progress.

– Danielle, Head of Legal and Procurement

A walk with my husband during lunch-time when the kids at childcare is the best time of the day. I also try to inject some “me” time during the day such as going to gym in the early morning or doing meditation after dinner done, dishes cleaned.

– Jessie, Data Science Lead

I try to reduce stress as much as possible and engage in activities outside of work that I enjoy. I also exercise and attempt to eat a healthy diet.

– Leena, Accounts Controller

How do you do your best to provide a safe, non-judgemental space for someone to confide in you about the challenges they’re facing?

Critical listening is important to me. To listen, and then recall the things people tell me can often do all the heavy lifting to creating or supporting a safe space.

Often, people just want to feel like somebody heard or saw them. I can’t help it sometimes, the practical side of me can offer advice before my mouth closes and my ears actually open but learning to sit with the emotion and make a silence comfortable is often (in my experience) what somebody needs after confiding in you.

– Joseph, Content Writer

Being open about your own issues so people understand they are not alone is one way to provide a safe, non-judgemental space.

– Steven, Finance Business Partner

Listen, be kind, reassuring and use constructive language.

– Steve, Gas Compliance Officer

I am quite open and transparent with my team about the challenges I face in terms of juggling caring commitments, work and the stress that inevitably comes from working in support function to an organisation like Energy Safe that has such a broad and complex remit. In doing this, I hope to demonstrate to colleagues that its ok to not always be ok, and that I 100% support open and honest conversations around how they are managing their own challenges, including what support we might be able to offer them.

At the same time, I also try to account for different people’s communication preferences and needs – not everyone will want to talk to their manager about their challenges, so it’s thinking about how else I can support them. Providing quiet space to work or engaging with other peers that they might be more comfortable sharing their challenges with.

– Danielle, Head of Legal and Procurement

I always try to be understanding, empathetic and supportive in casual and work-based conversations with others to show them they can also speak to me about serious and personal topics.

– Leena, Accounts Controller

Energy Safe’s hybrid working style and flexible working arrangements are designed to help our people achieve balance in their work and personal lives. How does our hybrid model and flex arrangements support you to balance your professional responsibilities and personal wellbeing?

As a new parent, the ability to work from home as a field based staffer is very helpful. I can finish work and be ready to help out where need be with the baby and even assist during breaks. The leave entitlements will be a great benefit in offsetting day care costs and spending valuable time with my child before they grow up too quickly.

– Steve, Gas Compliance Officer

Hybrid working is excellent, it has an answer for everyone when it comes to their work/life balance. For me, the environment at the office helps me stay on task and easily separate my personal life from my professional one while another person might find that stifling. If I had one request for my mental health, it would be in the investment of an actual coffee machine and a couch in the reflection room.

– Joseph, Content Writer

As a mum to two young kids, I feel very lucky to be able to utilise Energy Safe’s flexible working arrangements to condense my work week, so that I can spend Friday mornings offline with my kids.

I also really value the ability to work from home several days per week, as this reduction in travel time eases pressure on drop off/pick up arrangements and allows me to fit more work time into each day. Importantly, I have a very supportive manager and team that understand and actively support my flexible working needs. This makes all the difference, as a flexible work agreement is only as good as its implementation.

– Danielle, Head of Legal and Procurement

I value the hybrid working styles and flexible working arrangements that Energy Safe has offered me as a working mom with two preschool children. There is still a juggle between work and family, but it allows me to get things at work done and look after my kids when they need me most.

– Jessie, Data Science Lead

I can become extremely drained when having to physically travel to and from work five days a week and interact with others face to face every day. The hybrid working model helps to recharge my social battery and not overexert myself.

– Leena, Accounts Controller

Energy Safe’s hybrid working style and flexible working arrangements have afforded me more time with my family and less time in traffic which is great for my personal wellbeing. Microsoft Teams has been a great tool to keep connected with coworkers and stakeholders and I now look forward to coming in to the office a couple of days a week. not only to collaborate with my team but also for the social aspects. I feel that working the way we currently do has allowed me to achieve the best work life balance I have experienced since I entered the workforce.

– Dan, Line Clearance Manager

What are some ways we can all help to normalise conversations about mental health, or to help others feel comfortable to be forthcoming in that they need help?

Asking questions in general conversation and digging that little bit deeper are ways we can all help others to feel more comfortable in this way. Always be open and kind to one another.

– Steve, Gas Compliance Officer

Normalising mental health is a difficult line to walk, people feel rightfully different about it, and not everyone has or can be a port in the storm of somebody’s rocky life. If somebody discloses their feelings, often all you really have to do to normalise what they’re going through if it feels right to do so. If they’re feeling overwhelmed, tell them that it’s normal, and you’re willing to listen—if not help them feel less fatigued, within reason. A hot coffee and an open ear is easy.

– Joseph, Content Writer

In a team environment, encourage discussion on work pressures and how to navigate those challenges to meet the needs of everyone involved.

– Steven, Finance Business Partner

We can help reduce the stigma around mental health by sharing our personal experiences with others. Being patient, compassionate and non-judgemental when having these conversations can help others feel comfortable enough to reach out when they need help.

– Leena, Accounts Controller