Our purpose at Byrne Dean is kinder, fairer, more productive workplaces. Just under three years ago we were asked whether we wanted to help support and promote the Mindful Business Charter, a movement of businesses looking to remove the unnecessary stress from the ways we work, the interactions we have within and between our organisations, so as to create healthier and more effective ways of working. We jumped at the chance.
On Thursday last week MBC celebrated its third anniversary, welcoming 12 new members:
- Lottery operator Allwyn
- PR specialists The Branscombe Group
- Canadian law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
- Global corporate services provider Centralis
- Municipal authority the City of London Corporation (their legal team)
- Law firm Clyde and Co
- Baltic law firm COBALT
- Recruitment specialists Contract Scotland
- Financial services group Mastercard (their legal team)
- Law firm Sharpe Pritchard LLP
- Law firm Taylor Wessing
- Professional search and recruitment firm The SR Group
These new signatories continue to broaden the sectoral impact of the Charter in the UK and internationally and bring the number of signatories to 92. These organisations do not claim to have got all the answers but they are working and learning together, sharing best practices as well as challenges, to make meaningful and sustainable change to improve the ways in which we work.
If we are honest we know that the ways we work can be harmful and inefficient – we know things could be done better. But we grew up in organisations where we were told it is just the way it is, we can’t change it, you just have to suck it up, and anyway it was good enough for me so it is good enough for you. MBC is about challenging those assumptions and daring to change the status quo. To quote Barack Obama – “Change does not happen while we sit around waiting for the right person, or the right time. We are the people we have been waiting for.”
If you are interested in finding out more about MBC, and being part of the change, please visit the website or email richard.martin@byrnedean.com.
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Guest Q&A - Steven McCann on alcohol culture in professional services
Happy hour? A conversation about alcohol and work – culture, risk and belonging
From post-deal drinks to client events and team celebrations, alcohol is woven into workplace culture. Yet when something goes wrong, it’s rarely seen as ‘just a drink’.
With new duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, and growing attention on workplace risk and inclusion, it’s time to take a more intentional look at how alcohol shapes workplace culture – and the risks it carries.
This short, focused webinar will explore:
• How alcohol contributes to conduct, harassment and reputational risk
• The assumptions we make about what’s normal, social or expected
• How alcohol intersects with inclusion, wellbeing and boundaries
• What to think about when conducting risk assessments and looking at policies
• Practical steps to build positive connection while protecting what matters
Speakers:
Helen Dallimore
Head of Training, Byrne Dean
An experienced facilitator, trainer and former employment lawyer, Helen works with organisations to strengthen leadership capability and embed respectful workplace behaviours. She brings particular expertise in creating inclusive cultures where people feel safe, respected and able to thrive.
Cicilia Wan
Principal Consultant, Byrne Dean
A former employment lawyer and experienced Headof Employee Relations in global financial services, Cicilia has seen first-hand how alcohol canaffect conduct at work. She brings deep expertise in leadership, culture and managing people risk.
Steven McCann
Founder and Director, MCG Consulting
A leading voice in workplace addiction and recovery inclusion, Steven advises organisations on addiction awareness, recovery-informed culture and social mobility. He has spoken at the Bank of England and works regularly with law societies, the Legal Services Board and institutions across law, finance and corporate sectors.
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