Mindfulness at Work: Unilever's Employee Well-Being Strategy

How Unilever Implements Mindfulness for Workplace Well-Being

In this exclusive interview, Mindful Communications CEO Bryan Welch speaks with Diana Han, Chief Medical Officer & VP Global Health at Unilever, about their groundbreaking employee well-being initiatives. This conversation highlights Unilever's commitment to mindfulness and mental health support across their global workforce.

Unilever's Mindfulness Programs: A Global Commitment

Key initiatives include:
- Training 4,000+ mental health champions in the past year
- Developing peer support networks so employees are "never more than one touch away" from help
- Creating team-based well-being tools focused on psychological safety
- Implementing leadership assessments that include mindfulness metrics

"We knew that emotional well-being is incredibly important," says Han. "We've been focusing on this for years, well before the pandemic."

The Business Case for Workplace Mindfulness

Measurable benefits Unilever tracks:
- Monthly employee sentiment surveys on mental health
- Team psychological safety benchmarks
- Leadership performance metrics including mindfulness skills

Han notes: "We've seen metrics improving throughout the pandemic, which we're really happy about because these have been very challenging times."

Implementing Mindfulness at Scale: Unilever's Approach

Their successful deployment strategy:
1. Live expert-led training (not just videos or articles)
2. "Train the trainer" model for sustainable implementation
3. Voluntary deep-dive programs for mindfulness champions
4. Mandatory leadership standards incorporating mindfulness

"Our leadership team is incredibly supportive," Han explains. "We've found a real hunger for this kind of support globally."

Why Mindfulness Matters in Modern Workplaces

Research shows mindfulness programs can:
- Reduce workplace stress
- Improve focus and productivity
- Enhance emotional intelligence in leaders
- Create psychologically safe team environments

As Han emphasizes: "Attending to the mind and body is a prerequisite for good leadership."

Watch the full conversation from Mindful's Leading Mindfully webinar series to learn more about Unilever's innovative approach to employee well-being.