International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has today signed the Mindful Business Charter as part of its ongoing commitment to support employees' mental health and wellbeing.

The Charter commits organisations to tackle working practices that can affect employees' mental health and wellbeing.  By becoming a signatory, Herbert Smith Freehills has signalled its commitment to work with employees to improve areas including communication, working hours and considerate delegation of tasks.

Signing the Mindful Business Charter is the firm's latest demonstration of its determination to remove unnecessary sources of workplace stress.  It follows the establishment, in 2015, of the Mental Health Champion Programme, which was designed to train employees with an interest in mental health on how best to support others and provide effective sign-posting. The firm has an established 'Ability Network', which organises a range of educational seminars, guest speakers and campaigns on the topic of mental health and wellbeing. In October 2018, Herbert Smith Freehills implemented a global health and wellbeing commitment encouraging employees to prioritise their health and wellbeing.

Herbert Smith Freehills Executive Partner UK and EMEA, Ian Cox said: "Mental health and wellbeing requires continuous focus and review and is not something that can be taken lightly. By signing up to the Charter, we have underlined our commitment to help people prioritise their health and wellbeing, reinforcing a supportive, respectful and inclusive culture."

Herbert Smith Freehills joins a number of financial services businesses and law firms signing up to the Charter. Launched in October 2018, it brings legal services providers together to reach a shared agenda for mental health wellbeing.

Speaking on behalf of the founding group, Philip Aiken, Managing Director at Barclays said: "Herbert Smith Freehills' wholehearted engagement with the Charter demonstrates their passion and belief in inspiring positive change. The take-up from so many of our banking and legal counterparts shows the power of collaboration and we hope that in time these principles will be applied in all organisations across all sectors."

The Charter has the support of mental health charity Mind, the Law Society, Law Care and the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.