Interview with Kristin Prater from Clay Solutions

Challenge

“We believe that people can only flourish when they are happy and healthy. That would be physically, but also mentally. We applaud our ‘Bricks’ (Clay’s employees) to take some time if they don’t feel completely ok, even though we can’t ‘see’ the issue.”

Solution

This is why we offer OpenUp so the Bricks can talk with someone that’s objective.

In recent years, mental health awareness has grown as a major topic of interest within organisations. Many companies invested in mental health programs in the workplace, and, with the evolution of digital technologies, mental health online interventions have become more popular as an effective means of prevention and education.

 

Together with OpenUp, companies such as Clay Solutions are taking steps to make mental health accessible for all their employees and normalise the discussion around mental well-being within the workplace.

 

Clay Solution is an innovative software company specialized in cloud-based smart lock technology. Their innate passion for the work culture allowed them to found Clay’s Culture Club. Kristin Pater, Marketing Manager at Clay Solutions, shared with us her thoughts about mental health on the work floor and their experience with OpenUp.

What is the goal of Clay Solutions when it comes to mental health in the workplace?

 

We believe that people can only flourish when they are happy and healthy. That would be physically, but also mentally. We applaud our ‘Bricks’ (Clay’s employees) to take some time if they don’t feel completely ok, even though we can’t ‘see’ the issue. We also encourage speaking up about this, and we feel our culture is heaven, but of course, this can be tough. This is why we offer OpenUp so the Bricks can talk with someone that’s objective.

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How do you stimulate your employees to open up about mental health challenges?

We have periodic HR 1:1’s with the Bricks where they can tell all about how they experience their jobs, but also if they face challenges at home or at work. In these sessions, we might give additional advice to make use of all the options OpenUp provides, even though it’s accessible for them at all times. It’s also stated in our companies’  core values that we see colleagues as people first, so we place importance on well-being as a whole and we try to convey that to them. We always remind about the OpenUp services in our internal newsletters and company-wide townhalls.

“[…] we see colleagues as people first, so we place importance on well-being as a whole and we try to convey that to them. We always remind about the OpenUp services in our internal newsletters and company-wide townhalls.”

How do you motivate employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Even though we think routine is a big part of a healthy mindset, we don’t believe in the regular 9-5. Everyone is different and has a different lifestyle. Some days you flourish in your job and have challenges in your private life and the next day it’s the other way around. There is no real balance to be made, but you can make sure you navigate work and life by staying mentally and physically healthy. We want people to work when they feel most passionate and thus productive. Whether that is later in the afternoon or early in the morning. We don’t want the Bricks to get stressed out when they need to pick up their kid from daycare or go to the dentist. If you feel good, you will excel in your job and if that’s not the case, the flexible working hours are not the problem, it might just not be a good fit.

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Are there other things you do to keep employees vital?

 

Of course, we also offer a gym discount, boot camp sessions, and have fruit in the kitchen 🙂

 

You’ve been working with OpenUp since January. What has the response been like from your employees so far?

 

We have seen great adoption of the service with reduced absenteeism, especially in long-term sickness. Plus, the Bricks are very happy that we have this service available. It gives them a little more breathing room knowing they can always talk to an objective person, especially with the long waiting lines for ‘regular’ mental healthcare these days.

Want to find out how OpenUp can help your organisation?

👉 Let’s talk in a demo