Sustainability allies: let’s talk about wellbeing

Meet Greg Standing, head of risk & professional indemnity insurance at Gowling WLG in the UK and one of our network of mental health champions.

In this, the next in our ‘sustainability allies’ blog series, we talk to Greg about his work as part of this valuable listening and signposting service for our people. Wellbeing and mental health is an important element our overall ESG strategy, which focuses on four priorities: corporate governance; people, inclusion and wellbeing; environment; and responsible business.

Over this series we will look at the impact the firm is having across all its ESG priorities through the eyes of our people – turning a spotlight on the fantastic work they are doing to help others and push forward our ESG goals.

To find out more about our ESG initiatives, take a look at our Sustainability report 2023.

Your name and role at Gowling WLG:

Greg Standing, head of risk & professional indemnity insurance at Gowling WLG.

Tell us about the volunteering initiative you support…

In 2022, we refreshed our mental health champions programme with the recruitment of a number of additional champions – growing our network to 33 across the firm. We promote their role and offer their support to our people as part of a focus on health and wellbeing.

What type of support do you provide?

Our network of mental health champions offers a listening and signposting service, should any of our people wish to talk to someone in confidence. Each champion receives training to equip them to deal with any requests for support and can draw on the wider network for insight/resources.

In refreshing the programme, we reviewed how the champions were being utilised and put a programme of bi-monthly calls in place to offer ongoing learning on topics such as burnout, menopause and utilising employee benefits. Champions now also feedback on the general themes coming out of conversations, to help inform how to proactively address common issues.

What inspired you to get involved in volunteering?

Many years ago, long before the days of wellbeing initiatives in law firms, a colleague from a different part of the firm created a safe space for me to talk. Simply the act of speaking out loud to someone, in a safe environment, about how I was feeling was just incredibly powerful. What started as one conversation ultimately led me to make positive changes in my working life.

I often wonder what would have happened if I had continued to internalise my thoughts and, looking back, that first conversation may have been my ‘sliding doors’ moment. This is why the role of our mental health champions and the creation of safe environments where our people can talk openly is so important.

Where is our help making the biggest difference?

One of our key areas of focus is to remove the stigma around mental health – recognising that for men, in particular, it is still a difficult topic. For International Men’s Day 2022, for example, David Beeney, an external mental health expert, was invited to lead a webinar on men’s wellbeing. More than 100 people attended the session, introduced by one of our Board members and focusing on sharing experiences of mental ill health. The discussions acknowledged the power of senior leaders being open about their experiences and giving others the ‘permission’ to share their own, in turn.

What would you like to see more of to help support people in this area?

Role models.

Hearing peoples’ stories and learning from their experiences is one of the most important things we can do. I have experienced first-hand how being honest and vulnerable with others supports and encourages them to be the same. As a leader, I believe that normalising these conversations is one of the most powerful things we can do.

Is there one particular experience that stands out for you during your time volunteering through the programme?

Finding the courage to tell my own story on Word Mental Health Day a couple of years ago was one of the best things I have done – notably, because of the number of people who approached me afterwards in private to say they identified with the story.

For all of them, it was the first time they had ever opened-up to anyone. Think about that.

How does this network support the firm’s wider inclusion goals?

“Having a healthy mind is just as important as being physically fit. We are passionate about caring for our employees. We strive to create a supportive wellbeing culture where everyone can talk openly about their mental health and improve our collective understanding. Our mental health champions are trained to ensure they are equipped to deal with requests for support from our people, They contribute to the Gowling WLG culture that values and prioritises mental wellbeing, creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals can thrive, stigmas are removed and everyone feels empowered to seek and provide support.”  Sally Glarvey, head of DE&I and wellbeing, Gowling WLG.