By sharing their experiences, they aim to encourage industry
workers to talk more and share their own experiences.
The week was kicked off yesterday by Wates Construction managing
director Mark Tant who delivered video address to the firm’s UK wide team,
encouraging them to communicate and talk, despite the social distancing measures
currently in place due to covid-19.
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He addressed the difficult times workers find themselves in
at the moment due to pressures balancing work and family life or worries about
loved ones and their health, all currently exacerbated during the pandemic.
Chandler will share the recent experience of his father’s
death after being admitted to St Bart’s Royal London Hospital following a fall
on a blog this week. Coincidentally, within days of this happening, Chandler
handled a call asking for Wates’ help to deliver a rapid five-week project to
provide additional intensive care beds and capacity at the hospital in response
to the covid-19 pandemic.
He said: “Undoubtedly I felt personally invested in the
Royal London project due to my personal circumstances, so it was great to see
our team step up to this critical challenge. This week I’ll be reflecting with
colleagues on the testing times we’ve faced in the last few weeks and months –
both personally and professionally.
“Losing my dad has turned my family’s life upside down but
my hope is that sharing my recent experience may help colleagues and peers
across the industry realise that sometimes there are things that are more important
than work – and it’s ok to talk about them.”
Meanwhile Paul Dodsworth, Wates’ northern MD has written
about being diagnosed with testicular cancer aged 42 and how this has spurred
his passion for making cultural changes in what is traditionally considered a
‘macho’ industry.
He said: “As much as the industry is making great strides in
becoming more open and inclusive, many are still reluctant to seek help and
support with mental and physical health issues which deeply affect our
wellbeing. It is absolutely okay not to be okay. We hope that by shining the
spotlight on men’s health, we encourage colleagues to feel comfortable in
opening up and talking about their thoughts and experiences.”
Wates is also offering a series of online tools to
facilitate ‘Time to Talk’ sessions on sites throughout the week and has offered
teams access to a Men’s Health MOT hotline where they can talk to a
professional about any health related concerns and issues. The firm has 200
trained Mental Health First Aiders on hand to support the workforce when
needed.
The week will culminate in a company zoom webinar on Friday
19 June.
Tant said: “As an industry we don’t have the best track
record in supporting health and wellbeing so this week is a perfect opportunity
to reflect on this and change for the better.”
Men’s Health Week is organised by The Men’s Health Forum, a
registered charity whose mission is to improve the health of men and boys in
England, Wales and Scotland. In the UK, one man in five dies before the age of
65. Figures from Public Health England in the last five years has shown that
men working in the construction industry are at the highest risk of suicide.
