GoodHabitz

At OpenUp, we strongly believe that a key component in the workplace is to create an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. We are proud to say that we are not the only ones working based on this philosophy. 

 

Companies such as GoodHabitz are on the same mission: to make mental well-being accessible for all their employees. Sandrien Boogaard (Human Resources Director), Serginho Lens (Manager Learning and Development) and one of their employees shared with us their experience with OpenUp and the positive outcomes of our partnership.

Sandrien Boogaard (Human Resources Director at GoodHabitz)

 

@Sandrien: What were the primary challenges within your organisation related to employee mental well-being before implementing OpenUp?

 

Generally, getting access to coaching services is a big challenge for professionals. Companies often have limited budgets, and make these only available for Senior Management or in the case of a clearly demonstrated need. That is not GoodHabitz’s vision: We believe it’s essential that everyone, regardless of their position, has the opportunity to receive complete support – to thrive in work and life. 

 

This process is set in motion through self-insight and actionable training that we offer with GoodHabitz, but becomes complete when employees have the opportunity to connect with a psychologist. These pieces are so incredibly valuable. And it doesn’t have to stem from a ‘’problem’’: reflection and coaching conversations always provide benefits.

 

At GoodHabitz, we believe in the power of habits: regular moments of reflection and contact with a psychologist or coach are great routines. Whether it’s about work-related problems, personal issues, major life events, or even minor challenges, the ability to (proactively) work on this promotes a healthier mindset.

 

@Sandrien: What made you choose OpenUp as a mental well-being solution for your organisation?

 

Choosing OpenUp as our mental wellness solution was an easy decision for me. I had successfully worked with OpenUp before. The quality of their services was already proven to me. OpenUp offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise in several ways. Discussions with their psychologists and coaches consistently deliver high-quality support. In addition, OpenUp hosts events around current mental health topics, providing a well-rounded approach to wellness. This combination of expert guidance and inspiring events creates a comprehensive package that empowers our employees.

 

Given our organisation’s global reach, with operations in more than 15 countries and a diverse workforce of more than 20 nationalities, we felt it was important that as many employees as possible could communicate with experts in their native language. OpenUp meets this need by offering certified psychologists in a scale of different languages and time zones. Moreover, the user-friendly and accessible platform makes it easy for our employees to use the service.

@Sandrien: How do you measure the impact of OpenUp on employee mental well-being, and what metrics or data do you find most valuable for assessing its effectiveness? Have you observed any changes in employee engagement, retention, or productivity since the introduction of OpenUp?

 

Our ‘Happiness at Work’ assessment empowers our employees to measure their happiness at work. We use this as a base to reflect on and improve the mental well-being of our employees. After self-reflection, the primary goal is to ensure that our employees always have a trusted resource they can turn to when needed. A qualitative place they can turn to for support.

 

We know that OpenUp has a positive impact: we see that in different ways, and the most important one is through the enthusiastic feedback we receive from our employees.  This is reflected across our workforce, and particularly among the 20 – 35 age group.  

 

Our organisation is home to a vibrant group of young talent; many are in challenging life stages marked by “first-time” events, such as starting their first job, taking on a leadership role for the first time, buying their first home or becoming parents. These life changes can be overwhelming. OpenUp plays a crucial role in supporting this group by providing them with valuable tools to meet these challenges effectively.

 

 

@Sandrien: How do you see the long-term benefits of OpenUp in terms of employee mental well-being and overall workplace culture?

 

By providing employees with accessible and proactive mental wellness support, combined with our educational content on self-care and sensitivity, we foster a work environment where their mental health is valued and prioritised.

 

OpenUp is a cornerstone in building a work culture where employees feel supported and empowered. When people have the tools and resources to manage their mental well-being, they become more resilient and happy. They become more adaptable in their jobs. It positively impacts their performance and contributes to a collective sense of well-being within the organisation. A mentally healthy workforce ultimately leads to a more positive and productive work culture, a win-win for all involved.

Serginho Lens (Manager Learning and Development at GoodHabitz)

 

@Serginho: How would you describe the connection between learning & development and mental well-being at work?

 

We believe that learning & development and workplace well-being are intertwined.

 

To increase employee workplace well-being, we work on enhancing their sense of fulfilment, motivation and engagement. By offering our employees different opportunities to develop themselves personally and professionally, we enable them to explore their potential, achieve successes and contribute meaningfully to our organisation. In time this can lead to higher employee engagement, retention, productivity and happiness.  

 

 

@Serginho: What role has OpenUp played in enhancing personal development among your employees? Are there any success stories or instances where employees and leaders have experienced significant personal growth?

 

We work in a fast-paced environment and a lot of our employees also have a busy private life. This makes it important to have possibilities to relax, unwind, reflect and work on your mental well-being.

 

By partnering up with OpenUp we gain access to new development opportunities regarding mental well-being. This creates more room to incorporate mental well-being interventions in our current and future l&d initiatives. All services OpenUp provides are available for all our employees. To make the services more relevant for our employees, our managers play an important role in recommending specific services at specific moments for specific people when they feel employees could benefit.

 

We make sure that within our l&d programs our employees have the information to access the most valuable OpenUp interventions for their development. For example this year we launched the 1:1 session with a psychologist for all employees, but we also asked OpenUp for a selection of psychologists that have experience with management coaching. 

 

Incorporating this specific group of psychologists in our management development program gives our managers the opportunity to talk to an expert and discuss their challenge or situation they’re facing in their role.   

Feedback from one of their employees

 

@Employee: Can you share your personal experience with using OpenUp for improving your mental well-being? What motivated you to engage with the platform?

 

For me, one of the biggest benefits of OpenUp is that there’s someone available for me to connect with at almost any time of the day. Often, you can schedule an appointment for the same day, making it very accessible.

I’ve had three one-on-one sessions with a psychologist, and on both occasions, I felt that the person on the other side of the screen was genuinely attentive to my concerns. They asked insightful questions until they fully understood where I needed assistance. Each session has become gradually more focused, helping me identify specific areas I could work on. This personalised support motivates me to engage with the OpenUp platform a next time as well.

 

 

@Employee: Can you highlight any specific tools or resources within OpenUp that have been particularly helpful to you?

 

What pleasantly surprised me were the OpenUp Masterclasses. Masterclasses are online sessions that delve into specific topics and provide practical insights. I attended a session about how to incorporate self-care in an efficient way into your life. The masterclasses, with their practical takeaways, have been a standout feature that has added depth to my experience with OpenUp.

 

 

@Employee: In what ways has OpenUp contributed to your personal development, engagement and growth at GoodHabitz?

 

For me, a brief but in-depth conversation or a practical tool can help me straight away. Small insights or changes can make a substantial difference in personal growth. Personally, through my experience with OpenUp, I’ve gained a better understanding of my behaviour in specific situations, which has been helpful in my personal development. OpenUp’s support has contributed to my engagement and growth at GoodHabitz by providing practical tools and insights that I can apply to my professional and personal life.