Back 
Unless you were living in the dark, like half of Spain, Portugal, and France recently, you’ve heard about the blackout that brought these countries to a standstill.
Airports shut down, ATMs weren’t working, and people had to be evacuated from trains that stopped midway. In short, it was chaos all around. And naturally, the unprecedented nature of it all made it a stressful situation…or so you’d think.
The internet told us a different story.
People sunbathing in the park. Strangers dancing on the street. Tourists dusting off their paper maps like it’s 1995. Somehow, amid all the disruption, people slowed down. Safe to say, it was one of those moments where you just had to be there.
And maybe there’s something in that for the rest of us, too. Maybe it’s time for all of us to slow down and, quite literally, smell the roses.
To no one’s surprise, the workplace tops the list when it comes to stress triggers. In fact, a survey by Priory found that 79% of people frequently experience work-related stress.
Here’s where workplace culture comes in.
Are you a ‘fast-paced environment’ that only cares about deadlines and KPIs, with a no-matter-what policy? Or are you one who supports your people, giving them the space to show up as they are, even on the days when they’re not at their best?
Culture isn’t just about perks or office aesthetics, it’s about how people feel at work.
Valued or stretched thin? Trusted or micromanaged? Encouraged to breathe or expected to grind?
Some companies are catching on. They know that a culture that values wellbeing isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a brand asset. When employees feel genuinely cared for, they talk about it. They stay longer. They perform better. And the outside world takes notice.
Simply put, your employer brand starts with how your people feel on a random Tuesday, not just what’s printed on your careers page.
So, how can you be part of the solution, instead of the problem?
Well, for starters, recognise that mental wellbeing isn’t just a trend. It’s not something you talk about on certain days, just to tick it off your list. Stress Awareness Month may have already passed, but unfortunately, stress doesn’t own a calendar. Which means you’ll have to prioritise employee wellbeing in May too, and all the months that follow.
Create an environment that respects both brilliance and mistakes. Because one cannot exist without the other. It’s important to walk the talk when it comes to employer branding – if you claim to put people at the heart of everything you do, make sure your actions reflect that. That means if the new intern accidentally uploads the wrong Instagram story, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a teaching moment.
And lastly, don’t wait for a national crisis to give people space to unwind. You don’t need a power outage to power down. Build those pauses into your culture: a casual lunch at the pub next door when the team’s been sprinting for weeks. Meeting-free hours that actually stick. Or maybe even a TMP-inspired Outthink Thursday, where everyone’s creative genius comes together once a week to relax after work.
