From today all staff will be encouraged to take at least four days a year off work to focus on their own physical and mental health.

Under the Wellbeing Leave initiative employees can take at least one day off every 3-4 months with no formal leave limit applied.

Wellbeing Leave is being rolled out as part of Lendlease’s focus on work-life balance and its commitment to being ‘A Place that Cares’.

The firm hopes to reduce sickness levels by allowing people a day of leave to alleviate stress or take part in a wellbeing activity, in the hope they will return to work more engaged, healthy and productive.

Earlier this year, Lendlease introduced its enhanced shared parental leave scheme, which allows both men and women to be able to take up to six months paid leave.

Lisa White, Head of HR at Lendlease Europe, said: “Wellbeing Leave is a proactive investment in the health and wellbeing of our employees, and acknowledges the importance of a balanced work-family life.

“A healthier, happier workforce is naturally a more productive and engaged one – and less likely to take regular sick leave.

“There is a strong business case for us to take the health and wellbeing of our employees seriously.

“As we implement this leave initiative, we will be able to address employee needs or hold workplace initiatives on the health issues that matter most to our people.”

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