Today’s Wellbeing Wednesday is to focus on employee benefits. Here at GC, we offer many employee benefits from Volunteer2day (two days leave per year to volunteer) and sabbaticals to paid eyes tests and flu jabs (claim before the end of December). You can access the range of benefits and rewards we offer you but as we are now in the lead up to Christmas, I just wanted to highlight a few:
GC Yoga
If you weren’t already aware, we hold a weekly yoga class on a Tuesday and this has now moved to Zoom since the first lockdown in March. Here's what you need to know:
- the yoga classes are held on Tuesday mornings from 7:15 – 8.15 via Zoom.
- to join you will need to commit to a block of 5 sessions starting on 5 January 2021.
- the cost of the sessions will depend on the number of colleagues in the class and this will be communicated with you directly once numbers are known.
- you will need access to zoom, a clear space in your house to practice (where you can see your laptop/tablet) and a yoga matt if you have one, but it is not essential.
- the style of yoga which would be delivered is based on a Vinyasa practice, where you move from one pose to the next every 5 breaths.
- the yoga classes are catered for all levels - so if you're a beginner and want to try something new please don't be shy!
- this practice focuses on a continual flow of breathing and moving, it helps to stabilise the body, support any injury’s, loosen shoulders while strengthening your core, lower back and knees.
- this style of yoga is beneficial to do in the morning before a day of sitting and concentrating on to do lists and emails, as it awakens and refreshes the body and mind for the working day ahead.
If that wasn’t enough encouragement, hear from Richard Jeffery, Director of Business Growth Hub on why he attends the classes:
"I was a little sceptical joining the first set of GC yoga classes. I had never done anything like it before in my life. I had so many questions. What do you wear? Will I be able to do it? Do I have time to do it? Well, I took the plunge and joined the first class and I am so glad I did. Yoga has definitely become part of my life and has become especially important during 2020 as zoom and teams came to dominate all our lives. It has definitely improved my flexibility… but much more importantly it gives me a focused time to give my mind a peaceful place to go to (until my daughter comes into the room and asks me why I don’t look like the yoga teacher). In these strange times I would encourage you to give it a go if you haven’t tried it before, or use this opportunity to get yoga back into your life!”
For more information or to confirm your interest in the classes, please contact Nicola Manco.
If you are trained or willing to put on a virtual class of any kind (Pilates, Zumba, Boxercise, Chess – anything) for your colleagues, please contact Amy Collins.
Employee Assistance Programme
Our Employee Assistance Program, delivered by Health Assured, offers a range of support that is available to you throughout the festive period. Resources can be accessed through the Health Assured website using the username ‘Growth’ and password ‘Company’.
There is a wide range of support available in the form of a 24/7 confidential helpline, webinars, mini health checks, 4 week health programmes, factsheets, and online counselling (the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme is a valuable resource if you’re experiencing emotional problems such as anxiety, low mood or stress) and covering the following key areas:
- Emotional Health – How to cope with challenging life changes, advice on how to manage stress and anxiety, support for carers and mindfulness tips and techniques.
- Physical Health – Helping you to improve your physical wellbeing through healthy eating, staying active and sleeping better.
- Life Support – Practical advice on how to deal with relationship issues and bereavement; as well as legal and financial guidance.
To make it easily accessible at any time, you can also download the My Healthy Advantage app.
The GC Hive
The perfect tool for your Christmas shopping (who needs elves?), the GC Hive gives you access to a range of discounts and cashback offers from well-known high street retailers to help you get those much needed savings.
To make it even easier, download the SmartSpending app and have access to your exclusive employee discounts from anywhere, at any time.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, once you get into the habit of using it, you will be surprised at how much you save – I was!