Meet Leah Searle, SITUs HR Manager. We interviewed her to discuss all things HR and Mental Wellbeing!
A Day in the Life
How long have you been the HR Manager and why SITU?
I joined the SITU team in January 2021. SITU stuck out to me as a company that truly cares for its team. It is reflected in the company culture.
What does a “typical” day/week look like for you?
I don’t really have a “typical” working day, it is very different day-to-day. Depending on what is going on within SITU, I can find myself performing a rich variety of jobs. I have a lot of project work that is ongoing in the background whilst working where I am needed. It is a very varied role and your day usually ends up very different than what you planned!
What is your favourite part of your job?
I am a people person and enjoy being able to interact with the whole team. Work is such an important thing to people, and being able to join them within their working environment is something I love.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I love being able to spend my time out in nature! As part of the lockdown, I bought myself a paddleboard and now love spending as much of my free time as I can out in the sea. I am also very lucky that I live close to Dartmoor National Park which allows me to go on lots of hikes too!
What is your dream holiday destination?
My dream holiday destination is Costa Rica! What a great mix of tropical beaches and outdoor adventures!
Mental Wellbeing & HR
In a professional context, what does the term mental wellbeing mean to you?
To me, in a work capacity, mental wellbeing means the ability to do my job well. Actually being in a place that I can do my job to the best of my ability, and not having any distractions creeping in. I think this also interlinks with physical wellbeing as our work and personal lives are so connected. I like being in a space that I can be focused.
As the HR manager for SITU, what steps do the company take to make the staffs wellbeing (both mental and physical) a priority?
The mental wellbeing of the SITU team has always and will continue to be, a priority. All employees are entitled to two reset days that they can take as and when they feel they need them. Another step SITU take is providing private healthcare in which you have access to professional help in the form of counsellors and therapists.
We also actively encourage the team to keep the conversation going and want everyone to feel comfortable talking to us if they are going through a period of ill mental health. It is always important to remember that your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical wellbeing.
To help us better help SITU as a whole, we undertook a Mental Health First Aid Course. This course helped us further our knowledge about what mental health is, how to identify signs within yourself and those around you and how you can help support.
Companies globally are rethinking their working policies – what are your thoughts about that?
Covid-19 had made it more apparent to me that the human connection is so important. With the rise in remote working, you can often find yourselves feeling isolated and in turn, harms your mental wellbeing. The hybrid approach and the connections it provides is important to help balance us out.
SITU dedicated this summer to discussions around business traveller wellbeing and a better work-life balance. You can read about how Travel Managers approach the subject here, in the interview with SITU’s Senior Account Manager for TMCs, Matthew Deely-Harket.
To find out more about SITU and the work we do, head over to our website here!