Darlington Building Society has introduced a one-off payment to employees to support them with cost of living as well as a dispensation for a mental health day.
The one-off payment will be paid in October and December this year, with Andrew Craddock (pictured), Darlington’s chief executive noting that “positive financial health directly links to positive mental wellbeing”.
The “MyDay” holiday will be introduced next year and is in addition to colleagues’ annual holiday entitlement which also includes an extra day off for an employee’s birthday.
Craddock added that the “MyDay” holiday was there for “anybody who simply wants a day to rest and recharge”.
The mutual has also aligned holidays pro rata for all colleagues and pension contribution, with a 10 per cent contribution from Darlington.
‘Safe and pleasant environment’
Craddock said: “Darlington Building Society takes its role as an employer seriously. People spend a considerable proportion of their time at work so we put a lot into creating a safe and pleasant working environment for people to thrive in, by protecting colleagues’ wellbeing.”
He added: “We have a number of mental health first aiders, and a strong range of health benefits, including free counselling sessions through an independent third party, should colleagues ever feel like they need to talk to someone away from work.”
Earlier this year, the lender conducted a company-wide pay increase, so every role was benchmarked against the current marketplace. The mutual added it “remains omitted” to paying employees a living wage.
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
