British Insurance Awards 2019: The Diversity Award - Marsh

Winner: Marsh

Changing attitudes towards mental health and eradicating the stigma in the workplace is no quick fix.

The Diversity Award went to Marsh, a broker that has pledged to make much more noise in the industry to remove the taboo surrounding mental health in the workplace.

Since September 2018, the Mental Health Colleague Resource Group at Marsh has created a happier and healthier environment for employees, focusing on raising awareness, providing support, and supplying resources.

With a long-term goal to ‘change attitudes’, the group’s ethos centres around effective leadership, cultural change, and education.

Marsh has used Mental Health First Aid England’s training to implement these goals, using breakfast clubs and ‘lunch and learn’ sessions to inform and train staff.

Running clubs and yoga classes have also started, and employees are invited to start conversations around the various posters and stress balls found in the office.

After a successful London pilot where 70 employees were trained up as Mental Health First Aiders, the company will now roll this out nationwide.

“Mental health issues in the workplace are far too prevalent in our industry” commented one judge, “This is a great step forward – measured and unashamedly targeted.”

We’re delighted and incredibly humbled to receive the Diversity Award this year. At Marsh, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment so that people can bring their whole selves to work. The issue of mental health is incredibly important for building the type of culture in which all individuals, irrespective of role or background, are valued. This is not through paying lip service to the importance of D&I but through real, measurable initiatives that continue to benefit our colleagues and clients.

Jerry Flahive, director, Marsh