British Airways signs the Time to Change employer pledge

British Airways signs the Time to Change employer pledge

  • British Airways has signed Time to Change mental health pledge
  • TV fashion stylist Gok Wan shared how he overcame his mental health struggles and urges others to talk more about how they’re feeling
  • Pledge comes as British Airways is named the airline Brits would be most proud to work for

LONDON, UK, 2019-May-16 — /Travel PR News/ — At the start of Mental Health Week, British Airways has signed the Time to Change employer pledge, with mental health ambassador Gok Wan praising the airline for joining the conversation about the crucial need to offer emotional and psychological support in the work place.

British Airways has made the commitment to support the mental health and well-being of its 45,000 employees around the world. It comes after the airline was crowned the carrier people would be most proud to work for in an independent survey conducted by YouGov*.

British Airways’ Chief Operating Officer, Klaus Goersch, signed the pledge this morning at the airline’s home at Heathrow Terminal 5, and was joined by Gok Wan and Time to Change Director, Jo Loughran. Klaus said:

“I’m honoured to have signed this pledge on behalf of British Airways. With one in four British workers living with a mental health condition, it is important that we do all we can to help and support those who need it.

“This is just the latest example of why British Airways is such a great place to work; our people are passionate about creating a caring culture where everyone is able to speak up and find support. By signing this pledge we have committed to an action plan which we’ve already started to implement, and I look forward to this continuing throughout our centenary year.”

British Airways has committed to increasing awareness of the numerous sources of support and guidance available to employees, through some 130 wellbeing and inclusion advisers and will continue to increase mental health awareness amongst its people managers, through working with leading charity organisations. The airline is already supporting its people to share their personal stories to help others.

British Airways joins more than 900 employers making strides to normalise conversations about mental health in the work place. During the airline’s Time to Change launch event, Gok Wan shared candid details of his struggles and said:

“I am so pleased to see British Airways taking this issue seriously and doing its bit to break the stigma around mental health conditions; I’ve met lots of inspiring people today and I can absolutely see why they are so proud to work for the airline.”

Notes to editors

  • The Time to Change campaign, led by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, is co-funded by Comic Relief, the global charity partner of British Airways’ Flying Start programme.
  • As well as a commitment to the mental health and well-being of all colleagues, more than £500,000 of the funds raised through Flying Start in 2019 will be invested in Comic Relief projects across the UK, providing mental health and well-being support in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.
  • *For full details of the YouGov BrandIndex Research, please visit YouGov.
  • For more information about the pledge, please visit Time to Change.

Contact Details:

For more information please contact press.office@ba.com.

Source: British Airways

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