CGI Group Inc. is marking Mental Health Awareness Month by raising money for mental-health causes through its employee recognition program.
Through an internal platform called Applaud, employees can recognize colleagues who exemplify CGI’s six core values. For each employee recognized this month, CGI is donating $10 to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
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“This has received the best feedback from employees, as it feels good on both the nomination and reception sides,” says Joannie Martin-Lacasse, health and well-being manager at CGI Group. “We know that positive recognition is an important factor for [employee] mental health.”
This month, CGI is also offering a free yoga class and three virtual breathing sessions to help promote self-care and mental well-being. For company leaders, CGI is offering sessions on managing hybrid work and leading with empathy.
Last year, CGI established an internal network of mental-health champions, which currently consists of close to 100 members who employees can reach out to for support, says Martin-Lacasse. “Our slogan is ‘Let’s create a space to get real.’ It reflects our mental-health strategy of creating a psychologically safe space. We want our [employees] to know their leaders are trained on any topic [they may want to address].”
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