Staff benefits and wellbeing update
07 Sep 2022
Cost of living crisis, mental health support, staff discounts, staff survey and information on Suicide Awareness Day
Cost of living crisis
The cost of living is affecting many working parents and carers. If you’re struggling to make ends meet guidance on financial support from Working Families has been added to the financial wellbeing page.
It’s important to know that if you’re struggling in any way, and for whatever reason, that there is help out there. The University's employee assistance programme - Validium - can offer confidential support. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year – you’ll always be able to speak to someone who can help. Calls are confidential and what you say will never be shared with anyone at the University. They provide you with free:
- Telephone Support
- Counselling – online and face to face
- Signposting to Specialist Agencies
- Information & Resources via the vClub app
- General Health & Wellbeing Support
- Legal Information
- Money & Debt Support
You can also access services from our on-campus Counselling Service and their workshops.
If you support students in your role, you can signpost the Health Assured service. They support students with:
- Stress & anxiety
- Bereavement
- Relationship advice
- Loneliness
- Low mood
- Worries about yourself or someone else
- Tenancy & housing concerns
- Bullying & harassment
- Financial wellbeing
- Physical wellbeing
- Alcohol & drug issues
- Family issues
- Sexual & gender identity
- Medical information
- Exam worries
Discounts
Now kids are back to school you may need to boost your child’s learning with some brand
If you visit the UniDiscounts you can sign up for the Totum card which gives you hundreds of savings including 10% off at Co-operative stores.
The Medicash health cash plan is a low-cost insurance package that provides cash back towards everyday healthcare bills and a wide range of other wellbeing benefits. With just a small monthly payment, cash plans provide a simple, affordable way to cover healthcare costs, manage your money and safeguard the health and wellbeing of you and your family.
Staff survey - Make your voice heard and help Re-write Cancer!
The Staff Survey 2022 is now open. All eligible colleagues should have received an email on Monday 5th September from People Insight inviting you to complete the survey online. The survey will only take around 15 minutes to complete. Please share your views so that the University knows your concerns and can make relevant changes. For every survey completed the University will donate £1 to Re-Write Cancer – to create a world-leading cancer centre that will contain one of the largest concentrations of doctors, nurses and researchers in Europe.
Other updates
Suicide Awareness Day – 10th September
According to the Mental Health Foundation, “suicide and self-harm are not mental health problems themselves, but they are linked with mental distress. In the UK in 2020, 6248 people took their own lives: 5224 in England and Wales, 805 in Scotland and 219 in Northern Ireland. Men and women aged 45 to 49 have the highest suicide rates in England and Wales.”
Every year on 10 September, the world comes together to raise awareness of suicide and highlight the actions we can take to try and prevent deaths by suicide. You can find out more about this day on the Samaritans' website.
Colleagues and line managers can provide an important social and emotional support network, built on shared experiences.
Rory O'Connor, Professor of Health Psychology at Glasgow University states that evidence shows, “asking someone if they're suicidal can protect them. They feel listened to, and hopefully less trapped. Their feelings are validated, and they know that somebody cares about them. Reaching out can save a life.”
Visit staff benefits for more information on benefits, wellbeing, discounts, fitness, payroll giving and much more.