Resources
Wellbeing in the workplace
Mental health and wellbeing in our industry
Advertising is demanding. Tight deadlines, client pressure and sustained workload can put real strain on people — and on agency performance.
Recent research shows elevated levels of workplace stress and burnout across New Zealand, with younger workers reporting the highest anxiety. When wellbeing drops, agencies feel it through absenteeism, turnover, reduced productivity and “quiet quitting”.
The Comms Council conducted a review of solution providers evaluating thier offering, reporting practices, and associated costs. In conclusion, the Comms Council recommend Sonder as a third party solution provider and have negotiated great rates for our members.
The benefits of wellbeing programmes
Organisations with strong wellbeing initiatives experience measurable improvements.
Proactive wellbeing support reduces stress-related sick leave.
Healthy, supported teams perform better and deliver stronger results.
Positive workplace culture creates engaged, motivated teams.
Mental wellbeing is essential for sustained creativity and innovation.
What agencies can do
Practical steps to support mental health and wellbeing in your agency.
Implement flexible working arrangements
Where possible, offer flexibility in hours and location to help staff manage work-life balance.
Encourage realistic deadlines and regular breaks
Build buffer time into project schedules and actively encourage staff to take breaks and use their annual leave.
Open conversations about mental health
Create a culture where it's safe to talk about mental health without stigma or judgment.
Provide access to Employee Assistance Programmes
EAPs give staff confidential access to counselling and support services when they need help.
Train managers to recognise warning signs
Equip leadership teams with skills to identify stress, burnout, and mental health concerns early.
Create clear workload policies
Establish transparent policies around overtime, weekend work, and workload management.
Promote work-life balance from the top
Leadership must model healthy work practices staff follow what they see, not what they're told.
Recommended provider
Sonder
Sonder provides a stepped support model that helps employees access the right level of care — from everyday wellbeing tools through to 24/7 human support.
It supports wellbeing across physical, mental, social and cultural dimensions, aligned to a holistic model of health.
What staff get via the app:
- 24/7 access to human support
- Self-assessment and self-care tools
- Location-based safety and wellbeing alerts
- Smart check-in and journey tracking
- Access to clinical support (e.g., nurses, doctors, psychologists)
Cost
The following rates have been negotiated for Comms Council members.
- An annual fee of $3000 will apply to all agencies and a one-off implementation fee of $500
- Per employee fee (including family members) up to 20 staff members = $250
- Per employee fee (including family members) up to 50 staff members = $200
- Per employee fee (including family members) above 50 staff members = $200
Need guidance?
Talk to Sonder
If you're looking for support implementing wellbeing initiatives at your agency, or need guidance with specific challenges, get in touch with the Sonder.
Lily Blayney — Account Executive
lily.blayney@sonder.io
+61 478 055 049