A ‘Me day’ is a day you can take once a quarter as a day of additional paid leave
It is a day to reconnect with yourself, take time out, and do something just for you to help relieve any stress
Like a runner needs a rest day to avoid injury - so does your mental health
This is not an additional day of holiday and can’t be booked in advance but a day that can be given with limited notice (within the week) when you just need ‘a day’ to yourself to do things just for you. (IF it's a quiet day and you have no meetings or pressing matters, it can even be on the day itself, as long as you let your manager know before 9am.)
Like all days of leave - business needs will come first so these days cannot be taken when you have a conference or big company/team meeting etc. Even though its a day for your mental health, please bare in mind if there will be any impact on your peers mental health - e.g., don’t take one when you and your team member have a big presentation to prepare for the next day so your just leaving them too it… etc
These days are to be used to help maintain good mental health. However, for the days that your mental health is particularly low and you're not feeling your best, this is when you would let your manager/HR know and log as a sick day. This is important because we should be treating mental health just like physical health. If you woke up achy and full of cold not being able to concentrate on work you would call in sick, so why not when your mental health is low? Same effect, not being able to concentrate, lack of focus, need the time to get better.
Please note: Only 1 ‘Me day’ a quarter can be taken i.e - ‘Me days’ cannot be banked up and all 4 days used within the last quarter of the year.
We recognise the importance of birthdays as a milestone in one’s life, and the festivities that may accompany it. We also recognise that some people wish to celebrate their day with a lie in, shopping or visiting family. So, as a little prezzie from Automata we would like to offer the additional benefit of having your birthday off as an additional paid day of leave.
We also understand that there will be some of you that would like to come into work that day and be with your peers but would benefit from having the Friday off instead for pre-longed birthday weekend plans, and we're down for that🎉 That’s why we will give you the flexibility to book any day of your birthday week off. (Monday – Friday)
If your birthday falls on a weekend or Bank holiday do not fret, you too can also book a working day off that week. Remember – it’s our birthday gift to you 😊 Just needs to be booked in advance via bob with the usual approval process and business needs will come first.
E.g. ●Your birthday falls on a Sunday; you can book a day between the previous Monday and Friday. Should your birthday fall on any planned closures (e.g. Christmas) you can book a day from the week before.
Automata is happy to promote and support involvement in voluntary activity by its people. All employees are able to access an additional 4 days paid leave to pursue existing or new charitable projects.
Evidence also shows that helping others can also benefit our own mental health and wellbeing. For example, it can reduce stress as well as improve mood, self-esteem and happiness.
All we require is a letter or email of confirmation of the volunteer activity/day from the chosen charity and the usual notice and approval process of booking leave in bob.