Agencies across the industry took time out to create a safe space for staff and recognise the importance of asking "are you OK?".
Originally created by Australian non-profit suicide prevention organisation R U OK?, from sweet treats to a late start and sharing of mental health and emotional wellbeing resources agencies showed support for this significant day.
Mediabrands
IPG Mediabrands introduced a new RUOK? Day initiative, "Choccie and Chit Chat," combining sweet treats with meaningful conversations.
Chocolates were shared to make asking "RUOK?" a bit easier while also providing a serotonin boost, IPG Mediabrands people and culture advisor Shantelle Chand said.
"Question boards were placed in offices nationwide, encouraging employees to reflect on their work, relationships, and overall wellbeing—not just for the day, but every day," Chand said.
"Employees were also reminded of the range of wellbeing services available through different channels, emphasising that RUOK? conversations should go beyond the workplace and extend to family and friends.”
Special
For R U OK? Day at Special, Rach McEwen (Team Lead) shared some wisdom on how to listen with empathy based on her experience volunteering with Lifeline as a Telephone Crisis Supporter. Special also brought in a juice cart making delicious fresh juices and encouraged people to go for a walk and a chat with someone they don't usually get to spend time with.
The SPEED Agency
For R U OK? Day, The SPEED Agency focused on fostering meaningful connections and promoting mental wellbeing across the team. Our Culture Committee – The SPEED Angels - organised a series of activities including a special morning tea event where everyone was encouraged to check in with each other.
Staff were given resources on how to recognise when someone might need support and how to offer help effectively.
To support our teams own mental health and emotional wellbeing, we held a meditation event for the agency along with a yoga session held in nature.
All activities were led by our head of people, Angie Singmin, a corporate wellbeing expert and mental health first aider for the agency. The day was a reminder of the importance of asking R U OK? and the power of listening.
Equality Media + Marketing
Kindness has been the hero of our day and our newest recruit; Emily was the one wearing the cape. Emily kicked off the day in our office with two of the greatest levers in human connection – food and humour.
She shared delicious home baked and bundled cookies with us all and honestly the laughter at the daggy jokes has not stopped all day. In an agency, life can be pretty hectic and these little cookies have been a glue for us all today.
Emily is officially our first ever employee of the month!
ADMATIC
ADMATIC celebrates R U OK Day every year. This year, in line with World Mental Health Day's theme of “mental health in the workplace”, we focused on giving our team time back in their day.
We gave everyone two options:
- For those of us who wanted time for themselves, we offered a late start to the morning, allowing everyone to come in at 10am. Our team was free to use this time as they wish, such as attending a morning fitness class through our class pass initiative, or getting their steps up in line with our STEP-tember challenge.
- For those who preferred to come to the office, we shouted coffee and pastries, followed by a round-table check-in. We supplied “R U OK” Conversation cards, that gave our team prompts that encourage meaningful conversations. We also used the time to understand where we could help each other out.
However, we understand that mental health is a global issue, and that taking one hour out of our day, once a year isn’t enough. For this reason, and to continue to raise awareness around mental health, we are also officially closing our office on October 10 in honour of world mental health day.
We continue to work towards creating a work environment where our employees can freely talk about their mental health.
Intender
The Intender team gathered at Noosa River for a relaxing walk and a fish and chips picnic to celebrate R U OK Day. The event provided a space for candid conversations about personal and work challenges that might be keeping us up at night.
By opening up and listening to each other, we were reminded of the importance of empathy and kindness in our daily interactions. It reinforced that it's okay to ask how someone is really feeling, and even more important to listen.
The day fostered a sense of connection and support within the team, emphasising that we are all human and should look out for one another. We were also lucky to have some feathered friends join our R U OK Day picnic!
McKenzie Partners
At McKenzie Partners, we turned R U OK? Day into a creative carnival of connection. We set up cozy corners with comfy chairs and refreshments, inviting everyone to spill the beans on whatever was on their minds.
To break the ice, we introduced our legendary yellow punching cushion. Colleagues took turns giving it a playful punch while sharing their stories, turning serious conversations into light-hearted moments. This quirky activity created a supportive and non-judgmental environment where everyone felt heard and valued.
The afternoon was a whirlwind of laughter, thoughtful discussions, and heartfelt moments. It reminded us that a simple “are you okay?” can make a big difference. By listening, we strengthened our team bonds and showed that we truly care about each other.
Moving forward, we aim to make active listening a regular part of our culture. At McKenzie Partners, we’re not just colleagues – we’re a community!
Bench Media
On RUOK? Day, the Bench Media team stepped away from work to connect over a relaxed team lunch, fostering conversations outside the usual office environment.
"This year’s theme, 'RUOK? Any Day,' resonates with our commitment to ongoing mental health care for our staff," Bench Media VP of growth Anthony Fargeot said.
"At Bench, we understand the importance of continuous support, offering year-round benefits like 'Kit Kat' days for mental health breaks, access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and certified Mental Health First Aid officers among our team members."
Half Dome
At Half Dome, we embraced R U OK? Day 2024 by living this year's theme, "R U OK, Any Day!” Taking the morning to step outside and away from the desks, our team enjoyed a sunny walk through Richmond, followed by a healthy team brunch.
It was a great way to clear our minds and remind ourselves of the importance of taking time for our mental health, and our commitment to being here for each other every day.
Enigma
This year, Enigma will be participating in R U OK? Day across both of our offices. Newcastle has organised coffee and a walk around the beautiful foreshore, while Sydney will come together to enjoy a delicious lunch at Harmony Park.
As part of R U OK? Day and beyond, we are offering self-paced training for all staff from the Black Dog Institute, focused on supporting mental health in the workplace and self-care strategies. Managers will also participate in additional training on managing team wellbeing and having effective conversations about mental health.
Havas Village
On R U OK? Day, one green bean and organic hosted the Havas Village all-in to spread awareness of the importance of conversation and positive emotional support. Teams were encouraged to spark up a conversation with people from around the Village and interactive stations were set up to help re-create the viral TikTok trend “Dopamine menu” - a list of activities that make you happy.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.