We’re a global leader in premium drinks, the most exciting consumer products space.
Our people have different experiences, backgrounds, habits, and circumstances. And each set-up an individual needs to do their best work differs for everyone. That’s why we’ve designed wellbeing and flexible working philosophies that everyone at Diageo can benefit from.
Our philosophy
Our people across the world are what makes us unique, and we’re committed to supporting their mental health and wellbeing, whether that be mental, financial, social, or physical. We want our people to thrive and be able to be their best at both work and home. We play an active role in nurturing an open and inclusive culture, enabled by our leaders, by providing progressive policies and supporting tools.
It’s why we design our workplaces, rewards, and benefits with wellbeing in mind. And it’s why our philosophy helps us to create a supportive environment in which our people can have fulfilling career experiences, with access to a wealth of resources and tools to help each individual take control of their own wellbeing, because we know no one size fits all.
80% of employees feel that Diageo is
sufficiently supporting their health and wellbeing1
One’s sense of wellbeing is as distinct as they are, but we believe that there are four common factors that affect us all.
Physical wellbeing
To thrive physically requires understanding and managing of health.
It includes lifestyle behaviour choices to promote good health, avoid preventable illness and conditions, and to live in a balanced state of body, mind and spirit. To help support employees with their physical wellbeing, Diageo has created resources on topics such as menopause, men’s health, sleep, healthy eating, plus many more.
Financial wellbeing
Financial wellbeing is about a sense of security.
Being in control of your day-to-day finances—having the ability to manage commitments, meet financial goals, protect against risks, save for contingencies or future needs and cope with financial shocks.
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is influenced by a variety of factors.
For example being self-aware, being resilient by managing stress, coping with positive and negative emotional and mental triggers, dealing with life crises and maintaining stability through illness or injury.
The World Health Organisation reports a 25% increase in common mental health conditions since the pandemic and one in six employees are expected to experience mental ill-health each year. We know that employee mental health is at the heart of thriving every day and is a key driver of performance. Through our commitment to holistic wellbeing, we want to help break the stigma surrounding mental health so that our people feel supported:
- Our leaders continuing to role model & share personal experiences through our World Mental Health Day global conversations.
- Training line managers on how to maintain their own Mental & Physical wellbeing, while understanding how they can deliver impact, through proactive conversation and support of their teams’ wellbeing.
- Providing our people with access to dedicated mental health training, and broader support through our Employee Assistance Programme, a service available to all people worldwide, providing free, confidential counselling and advice 24/7.
- Continuing to measure the impact of our work, for our people and our business.
Social wellbeing
Social wellbeing is a sense of belonging to a community and making contributions to society.
Being connected, interacting with others, successfully resolving conflicts and adapting to change. Being connected with family and friends, workplace and the larger community can contribute to improving your social wellbeing.
Flexible working
We’ve always had a progressive approach to flexible working, and it’s part of our people’s wellbeing. We understand that our people thrive when they feel empowered to own how, when and where they create their best work. After all, flexibility gives us the space we need to let creativity in, and it’s key to our success.
Flexibility means something different to different people depending on one’s circumstances, so whether it’s about hours, or a blend of home and office life, we know it’s a two-way street, and we’re proud that it’s always build on trust.
Our people come together to arrange working patterns that suit both their individual and team’s needs, ensuring that where and when work takes place, is always considered. So, whether this involves working from a different location such as home, another office, or whether one starts or finishes work earlier or later than normal office hours, flexible working may be a one-off, short term, regular or intermittent arrangement that is right for you, your team and Diageo.
1 Ref: employee survey 2022
If you are training for a marathon you put the work in, that’s just what you do. It’s not like that when it comes to mental health because of the stigma that surrounds it. It’s important to me that we really normalise it, because health is health.
Global Scotch Director