Agency staff to get therapy help as they return to the office - Estate Agent Today (2024)

A London agency has launched a Wellbeing At Work initiative to help agents and other staff as they return to the office.

JOHNS&CO, which has over 100 employees in eight branches across the capital, says the initiative is tive aimed at enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of its staff following arguably the most challenging 18 months the industry – and wider community – has ever faced.

It ays that since March last year, cases of anxiety and depression have doubled in the UK, and evidence suggests that employers who invest in the wellbeing of their staff, recoup their investment fivefold through reduced absenteeism and staff turnover as well as enhanced productivity.

Part of the initiative is partnering with Plumm, an app which offers one-to-one video therapy sessions, chat therapy, therapist-led online psycho-educative courses, guided meditations and live monthly events.

As well as supporting mental health, the app also offers opportunities to grow self-confidence, motivation and leadership skills, enhancing wellbeing but also supporting career development.

The app is available free of charge to all JOHNS&CO staff members and their immediate family; nearly 60 staff members have signed up already and over 30 online courses booked.

Residential director Clynton Nel says: “Events of the last 18 months have undoubtedly shone a light on the issue of mental health in the workplace, none more so than in the world of estate agency.

“As a business with over 100 employees, the majority of whom have now returned to work in what is one of our busiest periods on record, we see it as our responsibility to ensure we are doing all we can to protect the mental wellbeing of our staff.”