Welcome to Jo Tracey, Director of People
Reflecting our renewed focus on colleague wellbeing and mental and physical health is the latest appointment to our Executive Team: Jo Tracey, who joins us in an all-new role as Director of People. Jo’s role as Director of People brings together our teams from HR, Recruitment, Learning & Development and Insight & Change. Jo was previously Interim Director of Resources at Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing in Yorkshire and brings a wealth of experience to Connexus from her time there and as a Director of People at Plus Dane Housing. Our new People directorate will ensure that our values are embedded throughout Connexus, with a strong customer-focus that never forgets to consider the wellbeing of our colleagues.
Bringing colleagues together, virtually
The outset of this article set-out the effect that social isolation and being away from your friends, family and work colleagues can have on your mental health and we've used technology and colleague initiative to fight this isolation. We were delighted to see Jo Tracey and many other Connexus staff joining in with #BrewMonday on 18th January, a day organised by Samaritans to encourage people to share a cuppa online and reach out to someone (18th January is often dubbed ‘Blue Monday’ – supposedly the most depressing day of the year).
#BrewMonday was just the latest initiative that saw our staff keeping that team spirit alive despite the physical distance between us. We’ve organised photo competitions throughout the various lockdowns that have seen colleagues get really creative, and several teams have been holding their own Zoom quizzes and other weekly events. No, it won’t replace the kitchen gossips and Christmas parties that we’ve all missed, but these virtual get-togethers can go a long way towards keeping people feeling connected and boosting their wellbeing.
Of course, we mustn’t forget about our physical wellbeing – which can so often be tied to good mental health. The NHS have placed great importance on keeping our physical health in good condition throughout the pandemic and the positive effect this can have on our mental wellbeing, with exercise linked to improved sleep patterns and energy levels. With this in mind, our latest company-wide virtual event is the On-The-Move Challenge, which sees colleagues walking, running, cycling and hiking their way towards a shared target of 2021 miles.
Supporting each other and delivering for our customers
While vaccines have given us some 'light at the end of the tunnel', the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the ways we live and work, with a potentially harmful impact on our health and wellbeing. The lockdown has encouraged us to refocus our efforts to support all of our teams and to make sure that nobody is suffering in silence, but the lessons we've learned will ensure we can support a passionate, effective workforce that delivers to our customers for years to come.
