We met up with Linda Cook at Rollits to find out how the law firm looks after its staff.
Linda Cook is Head of HR at Rollits, a role that covers a wide variety of duties that focus on enabling employees to remain confident and happy in their work. Linda looks after the HR functions for both the Hull and York offices, which includes allocating and logging holidays, absence, staff benefits, employee queries and payroll. Another responsibility is overseeing an in-depth onboarding process, ensuring that each new starter is given a tour of the offices, set up on the computer system and provided with everything they need to hit the ground running.
“Another of my priorities is protecting and strengthening employee wellbeing and mental health,” said Linda. “Rollits signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge in 2019, which reflects our commitment to changing the way we all think about and respond to mental health in the workplace. We’ve also been working hard to educate staff about this, and have appointed several Partners, lawyers and support staff as Wellbeing Companions, to act as ambassadors when staff require guidance, signposting to a mental health charity, or simply lending a sympathetic ear.”
On top of these responsibilities, Linda is Joint Chair of the Rollits Employee Forum, which comprises representatives from each department throughout the firm. The forum meets regularly to organise social functions, set up wellbeing and environmental initiatives and plan the firm’s corporate social responsibility calendar.
“Together we’ve organised everything from better recycling in the offices to fundraising activities for our charity of the year, which at the moment is Hull 4 Heroes. Our employees are taking part in the charity’s One in a Million campaign, which aims to collectively cover one million miles through walking, running, cycling and swimming. To facilitate this, we are hoping to install two treadmills in our reception, where employees can take turns to add to the step count.”
In order to get staff involved with Hull 4 Heroes on an even deeper level, Rollits have invited Paul Matson (Chairman and Founder) and Helen Skinner (Project and Events Coordinator) to visit their offices to talk about exactly what the charity does and how people can contribute to its efforts. As well as fundraising, there’s the opportunity for individuals and businesses to support the charity by donating time to help with co-ordinated initiatives such as painting houses and planting gardens in its new Veterans Village.
“As with all businesses, we’ve had some tough challenges over the last two years due to the pandemic,” said Linda. “That’s when our Wellbeing Companions and Time to Change Employer Pledge really came into play. Working from home and new staff joining us remotely meant that we had to do everything possible to maintain solidarity, two-way communication and employee support, which all continue to go from strength to strength even now that everyone is returning to working in the office.”
Rollits also offers an employee assistance programme through Health Assured, which includes 24/7 counselling, the ability to log your mood each day, and a handy app that shares useful podcasts and webinars.
“We’re also organising a wellbeing month for May to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week,” said Linda. “There’ll be lots of activities focusing on this year’s theme of Loneliness, such as sharing inspiring quotes from our staff via email and encouraging people to talk to each other more often. An ambassador from Andy’s Man Club will visit our offices to discuss what the charity offers to men, plus we’ll have menopause awareness training provided by one of our Employment lawyers, Caroline Neadley. We’ve also organised a programme of yoga sessions after work and the recommencement of our lunchtime walking group.”
“We’re always coming up with new ideas for employee engagement and supporting the mental health of our staff,” said Linda. “From fun runs and bake sales to comprehensive advice and support, employee wellbeing is and always has been our top priority.”