A Culture that Cares

By: Jenn Riverva, VP of Finance & Operations, and Bridget Higgins, Human Resources Manager

Wellness is personal. It can look like taking a walk between meetings, having the right resources during a difficult season, feeling more confident about a financial decision or simply sharing a laugh with coworkers. 

That is why Wellness Month at &Barr focused on more than physical health. Throughout August, we explored four areas that contributed to our overall well-being: social, financial, mental and physical wellness.

Creating Connections

Social wellness is about feeling connected to the people around us. In a fast-paced agency environment, it is easy to move from one deadline to the next without taking time to enjoy the community we have built.

We kicked off the month with &Barr Spirit Week. Daily themes and friendly competition gave our team an opportunity to step away from the usual routine, show some personality and connect across departments. The outfits were fun, but the moments shared throughout the week were what made it meaningful.

That same spirit of connection continues through our summer lunch tradition. Every Thursday throughout the summer, we provide lunch for the agency, giving everyone a chance to gather, recharge and enjoy time together away from their desks. These simple moments help strengthen relationships and remind us that social wellness can be built into the workday.

Building Financial Confidence

Financial wellness is about building confidence in your financial decisions. It is about having access to information that helps make important decisions feel less overwhelming.

Our partners at OneDigital hosted a Homebuying 101 session for team members interested in learning more about the homebuying process. The conversation offered practical guidance while creating space to ask questions about a major financial milestone.

Providing educational opportunities like this is one way we can help our team feel more informed and confident about the decisions that affect their lives beyond the office. With rising costs and an unpredictable economy, making informed financial decisions can feel more challenging than ever. By providing practical educational opportunities, we hope to give our team useful tools and greater confidence as they navigate financial decisions beyond the workplace.

Supporting Mental Well-Being

Busy seasons happen, both professionally and personally. Mental wellness means recognizing when things feel heavy and knowing that support is available.

During Wellness Month, we reminded our team about the confidential resources available to help navigate stress, anxiety, grief, work-life balance and other challenges. More importantly, we continued to reinforce a simple message: no one should feel as though they have to manage everything alone.

Creating a supportive workplace begins with making it easier to have honest conversations, ask for help and take time to reset when needed.

Making Movement Meaningful

Physical wellness does not have to begin with a major lifestyle change. It can start with small, realistic choices that fit into everyday life.

Our Stridekick Challenge encouraged team members to get moving while enjoying a little friendly competition. Whether someone added a lunchtime walk, stretched between meetings or found a new activity they enjoyed, every step counted.

The goal was not perfection. It was to show that movement can be approachable, flexible and even more enjoyable when we encourage one another along the way.

Wellness Beyond August

Wellness looks different for every person, and it can change depending on the day or season of life. There is no single program, event or resource that meets every need.

Wellness Month gave us an opportunity to pause and focus on the whole person. Although August may be coming to an end, our commitment to building a workplace where people feel connected, informed, supported and encouraged continues throughout the year.