The Austrian subsidiary of Swedish furniture giant IKEA is implementing an innovative programme to improve the mental wellbeing of its staff. The effort comes at a time when employees face upheaval as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as shifts driven by the digitalisation of the economy. Speaking to Planet Labor, Katharina Masser, who leads the health and wellbeing unit at IKEA Austria, explained the two-part programme.
IKEA Austria unveiled the “R U OK?” initiative to provide mental health support to its workforce in early April 2021. The programme is coupled with the launch of a training programme named “First Aid for the Soul”, which will train specialists across the business. According to Thomas Hiesberger, personnel manager at IKEA Austria, it is the firm’s responsibility “not to look the other way and to counteract the stress many people suffer, with free advisory services, an open culture of...
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