A Perthshire company has launched a new programme to cement its commitment to mental health as it seeks to lead its industry in workforce wellbeing support.
Binn Group, based in Glenfarg, has set up BeBinn – a campaign to protect the safety and mental health of the workforce by training staff to identify signs and triggers, alongside a new 12 page brochure for workers.
The recycling and resource management company has already won plaudits by establishing an industry first in-house support service for its 140-plus employees.
Chief executive Allan MacGregor felt obliged to focus on mental wellbeing after various incidents made him realise that some members of his male-dominated team had issues they needed to talk through.
He believes what he has set up will become compulsory for industries and businesses need to learn to challenge the stigma around mental health.
He said: “Without our employees we would be nothing at Binn Group and it is vitally important to safeguard their health and wellbeing.
“We are making the change from a traditionally male-dominated tough culture to one that can embrace mental, as well as physical, issues affecting our staff.
“Binn Group is a family business and BeBinn is the caring family brand that we all want to buy into.
“We need to support each other, showing that there are colleagues, managers and external experts who can offer help as and when required in addition to the team work the job demands.
“It’s important for Binn Group to officially mark that change in culture and share with the workforce through BeBinn what we expect of them and what our vision and values are.”
The chief executive said his company are already feeling the benefits of their proactive approach to mental health, not just through a happier workforce but also a more productive one.
Since Binn Group first adopted their new strategy in 2018 with mental-health-support charity Speak they have seen a fall in absenteeism relating to stress and anxiety.
Allan said he can also name firsthand employees he has seen benefit from the programme and the difference it has made in their lives.
