Xero drives awareness to fight stigma of mental health in the workplace

Hong Kong, China, October 10, 2018 /Isentia Wire/ - New Wellbeing Leave entitlement gives global Xero employees a way to focus on personal health and encourages wellbeing for small business

HONG KONG, October 10, 2018 — Xero, the global small business platform, today introduced changes to leave entitlements for its more than 2,000 global staff in a bid to promote and encourage a safe and inclusive environment by providing the opportunity for employees to access personal leave for their wellbeing and mental health when needed.

Introduced globally on World Mental Health Day on October 10, the new Wellbeing Leave changes mean Xero staff can now not only take leave for physical or mental illness, to cover medical procedures, when a partner or dependent requires care, but also to take time off for their own personal wellbeing.

The new policy from Xero is particularly significant given that three out of every 100 Hongkongers aged between 16 and 75 suffer from depression, according to figures from the Centre for Health Protection.
Employees based in Hong Kong will receive up to 36 days of paid leave in addition to Annual Leave without the need for medical certification. Employees also have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which allows those who are undergoing a traumatic life experience such as chronic illnesses or the loss of a loved one, to reach out to a dedicated helpline committed to providing guidance and help through a difficult process.

“People come to Xero to do the best work of their lives, which is why it’s vital we support not only their physical wellbeing, but their mental wellbeing as well,” said Rachael Powell, Chief Customer and People Officer at Xero. “Mental illness and poor wellbeing is something that affects many people, including small businesses; most people will encounter it in themselves or someone they love during their lifetime. We cannot afford to ignore it.”

“We hope this small step will help those who need to take time out for their personal wellbeing to do so without feeling a stigma.”

The theme of World Mental Health Day 2018 is “Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World,” highlighting the need to focus on preventing and supporting mental illness in those from a young age. Xero is working with organisations including beyondblue in Australia and the Samaritans in the UK to support mental health causes in each region – for our own people and for our small business customers.
Xero’s efforts during World Mental Health Day form part of a broader commitment to champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and supporting flexible ways of working for all.

“We fundamentally believe in the power of the human touch at Xero, and creating a positive inside-out culture that starts with every single Xero employee and resonates with our partners and customers,” Powell said. “When we get this right, our people go from functioning to flourishing, which means that everyone inside Xero is set up to play to their strengths and do their best work. A powerful human ripple effect occurs which means we are better able to serve our broader network. Ultimately this has a positive impact by helping global small business thrive.”

Media Contact
Xero Communications Text100 Hong Kong
Semantha Tan Rose Chan/Winnie Ngai
semantha.tan@xero.com xeroHK@text100.com

About Xero
Born in the cloud, Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use platform for small businesses and their advisors. The company has 1.4 million subscribers in over 180 countries and a thriving ecosystem seamlessly integrating with 700+ apps. On the inaugural 2018 Financial Times FT1000 High-Growth Companies Asia Pacific list, Xero was the fastest growing tech company in the $200 million+ segment. Xero won Technology Provider of the Year at the British Small Business Awards in 2016 and was rated by Canstar Blue as Australia’s best accounting software four consecutive years, 2015-2018.