Accreditation Reflects Law Firm’s Serious Approach To Colleagues’ Mental Health

Irwin Mitchell has today been named as one of the ‘UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing’ by Great Place to Work (GPTW).

In what is a new category for GPTW, Irwin Mitchell has been recognised for the introduction of a number of new initiatives together with its overall approach to wellbeing which puts the psychological health of colleagues at the heart of its people strategy.

Expert Opinion

“This is fantastic recognition of the work our colleagues and leaders across Irwin Mitchell have established to emphasise wellbeing in the modern workplace. By providing a focus on the importance of looking after ourselves and each other, we’ve continued to make Irwin Mitchell a great place to work.” Andrew Tucker - CEO

The GPTW judges were impressed with Irwin Mitchell’s approach to wellbeing and how openly it is discussed it all levels of the business.

The key aspects of Irwin Mitchell’s wellbeing programme are based around four key principles - ‘Self Care’, ‘Feeling Valued’, ‘Meaningful Connections’ and ‘Creating Space’.

Irwin Mitchell has invested in educating its colleagues and leaders to understand more about psychological health and it has a community of colleagues who bring the strategy to life. Day-to-day support is delivered through a team of 90 Healthy Mind Advocates who have been trained as Mental Health Champions by Mental Health First Aid England.

They are supported by Irwin Mitchell’s National Wellbeing Team which is responsible for keeping the narrative and action on wellbeing at the top of colleagues’ agenda.

All colleagues and leaders also have access to a range of resources which help them with their own wellbeing and supporting that of others.  

Irwin Mitchell colleagues also benefit from a wellbeing day which allows them to take a day off work in order to recharge themselves. In 2021, 95% of colleagues took advantage of this benefit.

This latest accreditation follows last year’s news where Irwin Mitchell was ranked 9th in the Best UK Super Large Workplace for Women.

During the last 12 months, Irwin Mitchell has also enhanced its benefits that focus on flexibility and inclusion. These include the removal of the limit for those wishing to work flexibly; enhanced  shared parental leave pay so that is in line with current enhanced maternity and adoption pay; increased paternity leave from two weeks to four weeks’ pay; and the removal of the 35 hour limit for time off for those undertaking fertility treatment.

The firm also confirmed last year it would use a Flexible By Choice approach to ways of working with colleagues choosing where and when they wish to work subject to client requirements.