Introduction

About this report

Welcome to the second edition of the Banking Wellbeing Pulse, Bank Workers Charity’s exploration of the state of wellbeing in the banking sector. Workplace wellbeing is constantly evolving and in the two years that have elapsed since our first report, we’ve seen many significant developments. Emerging wellbeing issues like menopause have become established as fixtures in the wellbeing strategies of most large employers. Businesses have begun to explore how AI will become an essential part of the wellbeing infrastructure. The needs of neurodiverse employees have become a more prominent consideration in wellbeing thinking. And we’ve seen the links between DEI and wellbeing become stronger.

These and many other themes will be explored in this report. As before, we’ll be highlighting some of the most innovative initiatives we’ve seen in our work across the sector. One significant development we believe hasn’t received the attention it deserves is the contribution of wellbeing champions and advocates.

Finally, we’ll again be examining Bank Workers Charity’s own usage data to identify salient themes and trends that offer insights into the wellbeing issues that have most preoccupied the banking community over the last 18 months.

Although the report focuses specifically on banks, we believe there are lessons here for other sectors too. Some of the exciting initiatives we highlight could be replicated elsewhere. It has been our goal from the outset to help spread best practice and if any sphere of activity can transcend the natural competitiveness between businesses, it is surely workplace wellbeing. We hope you enjoy the report and feel inspired by some of the initiatives you see here.

I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the many contacts at different banks who provided ideas and case studies for this report. It simply would not have been possible without your invaluable contributions. I also want to pay particular tribute to four wellbeing experts who gave so generously of their time to explore the wellbeing landscape and the multitude of ways it’s evolving. Their fascinating reflections and insights shaped every aspect of this work, surfacing themes and connections I would never otherwise have explored. My thanks go to: Alan Mochrie, Benefits and Wellbeing Manager, NatWest Group; Anastasia Vinnikova, Suicide Prevention and Project Officer, City of London Corporation; Emma Stacey, Group Health and Wellbeing Lead, Lloyds Banking Group; and Lee Crowley, Global Wellbeing Lead, Barclays Bank.

Paul Barrett
Head of Wellbeing, Bank Workers Charity