Mental health matters to us: well-being and health in the workplace at ISGlobal

Following the COVID-19 crisis, we are now talking about a new pandemic: the mental health pandemic. At ISGlobal , we know that the well-being and mental health of our team members are fundamental to our personal and professional success. This is especially true for an institution whose mission is global health. Our commitment to the ISGlobal team is comprehensive. As our motto expresses: We think of everyone, we count on everyone, we're going for it!

These principles stem from the values of the Strategic Plan and are embodied in the Personnel Management policy, which establishes the foundations and values upon which we build all other human resources policies and procedures. Similarly, we hold the HRS4R logo ( Human Resources Strategy for Researchers ), awarded by the EU in 2015 and renewed in 2021, which frames our human resources policies and those specific to researchers, such as commitments to integrity in research and career development, among others. Finally, as an evolving institution, we have implemented an internal organizational innovation project, The Code Plan , which entails a new approach to work structures, teams, and personnel.

Therefore, we have developed a Comprehensive Plan focused on healthy relationships in the workplace . This plan covers everything from working conditions and time policies to performance reviews, recognition programs, and trust management. Through these measures, we aim to promote a positive, stimulating, and healthy work environment for all our employees.

Working conditions and time policies

We understand that working conditions play a crucial role in the well-being, and therefore the mental health, of our employees. Our working conditions (vacations, flexible hours) are designed to promote work-life balance and a healthy work-life balance . We encourage the responsible use of working hours, avoiding overwork and fostering efficient planning. To achieve this, we have adopted a hybrid organizational model , which allows for remote work by mutual agreement, establishing overlapping schedules to facilitate team cohesion and a customized model within each team. We offer flexibility in time allocation, allowing schedules adapted to individual needs.

We have signed the Pacte del Temps promoted by the Barcelona City Council, from which we develop the digital disconnection policy that establishes a framework of recommendations as a fundamental element to achieve a better organization of working time in order to respect private and family life.

Healthy work environment

With this, we aim to transcend the individual tasks of each team so that, as outlined in our mission, we can better address the scientific and academic questions posed to us across ISGlobal's value chain (from knowledge to application). This will be achieved through innovative solutions and solutions generated by collective intelligence . In this regard, the design of our spaces has been reimagined, and new solutions have been created to generate flexible, open, and multipurpose meeting spaces that foster this creativity.

7 tips to take care of your mental health in the workplace

Read more

Building relationships in the workplace is essential to address the situations and doubts we face and to which we must provide answers; this is only possible within relational parameters.

The ISGlobal team, by definition, is a group that travels frequently, often to countries with varying levels of health and mobility risks. Therefore, having a comprehensive set of travel insurance policies and guides that provide guidance and ensure safe and informed journeys, as well as coverage for adverse events, is essential.

Healthy working relationships, based on trust

Trust is a fundamental pillar for establishing healthy relationships in the workplace.

At ISGlobal, we make a continuous effort to promote open and transparent communication, so that each person can express their concerns and suggestions through various internal communication proposals: All Hands Meetings , Questions and Answers on relevant topics, face-to-face communication and cohesion spaces such as the Cava Glass or Team Building , in addition to other information-communication solutions such as the intranet, the Friday Journal or the Monthly Letter from the Director.

Territories of tension, ecosystems of balance

Read more

On the other hand, within our teams and respecting the individuality of each person, we have taken firm steps to foster a work environment based on trust and transparency. The implementation of a performance evaluation system— Professional Assessment— is a key element in the feedback process between each team member and their supervisor. We understand that performance evaluation is an integral part of human resource management, but it can also negatively or punitively affect employees' mental health. Therefore, we have adopted an approach based on recognition and professional development . We conduct regular evaluations that highlight each employee's achievements and strengths, offering constructive feedback and setting achievable goals that are agreed upon and submitted to Human Resources for monitoring. With this, we aim to promote professional growth, as it is linked to the training plan and, therefore, offers training and development opportunities, contributing to a greater sense of job satisfaction and motivation.

Resources and training

To support the implementation of mental health and healthy relationships in the workplace, it is important to provide employees, and especially middle managers , with resources and training. These are designed to provide both the knowledge and skills necessary to foster good mental health and positive relationships in the work environment.

• Awareness and education : We have designed training programs that promote awareness and understanding of the importance of mental health in the workplace from different perspectives. These range from diversity management courses (including neurodiversity) to training modules on psychological first aid that help identify signs of mental health problems, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and promote work environments free from discrimination and judgment.
• Effective communication skills : Training in communication skills is essential for fostering healthy relationships at work. This includes developing active listening, clear expression, and assertiveness skills ( Clear communication skills, How to handle difficult conversations ...) to facilitate open, respectful, and constructive communication.
• Conflict resolution and stress management : Following the provision of specific training in conflict resolution and stress management, we will move forward with proposing an internal procedure that will allow us to prevent and manage conflicts in a reasonable and constructive manner, with support if necessary, and by monitoring cases of harassment. This training is offered to all staff, but particularly to middle management.
• Leadership and mentoring: Support and guidance are fundamental for team leaders who face individual and team challenges daily. Therefore, reflecting on the leadership style we promote, as well as training for these individuals, is essential for deploying and implementing the proposed strategies . Our training programs, such as Self-Leadership and Leadership for Women in Science, aim to contribute to the development of leadership models that also consider these aspects. In addition, coaching sessions (3 hours annually for each manager) are offered for situations requiring support.

In addition to training, it is important to provide information about available support resources in case of mental health problems or stressful situations . Our close collaboration with the public healthcare network through our occupational health and safety service, as well as our affiliation with Hospital Clinic and Parc Salut Mar, provides an extremely valuable framework in this regard.

Therefore, at ISGlobal, the mental health of our employees is a priority. This includes creating a work environment that fosters healthy relationships, considers working conditions, promotes flexible time policies, values our employees through recognition, and cultivates trust.

We are convinced that by prioritizing the mental well-being of our team, we will achieve benefits at both the individual and organizational levels, promoting a sustainable, cohesive, productive, and enriching work environment for everyone. And finally, at the social level (it's part of CSR).