Well-being for all — How Picnic Opens Up

We are committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for our employees with a strong emphasis on mental health. And we believe a healthy mind starts with a healthy body. Many employees have formed sports groups with people in and outside of their own teams. You can join the summer football tournament, test your hockey skills, or if you prefer something a little less fast-paced, you can join the walking group or sign up for yoga classes.

To further promote a healthy lifestyle, our People team actively recommends using OpenUp as a preventative measure, providing employees with tools to maintain a sustainable work-life balance. On the other hand, OpenUp is also encouraged as a resource for intervention and targeted support when specific needs arise, to ensure our employees have access to comprehensive mental health care whenever they need it.

Wellbeing at Picnic

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, prioritising mental well-being is more crucial than ever. Yet, seeking help or support for psychological challenges can be daunting, with barriers ranging from stigma to costs to availability.

That’s why we at Picnic work together with OpenUp. This innovative platform offers a low-threshold path to strengthen your mental well-being. Think quick access to licensed psychologists, nutrition advice, and lifestyle coaching.

A personalized pathway

Everyone’s journey to mental well-being is unique and therefore requires a different approach. Recognizing this, OpenUp offers a variety of features to work on your mental health with a pace and method that suits you best.
Users can book a one-on-one session with experienced psychologists in 30 different languages, providing a safe space to explore their thoughts and emotions. However, these sessions aren’t only for intimate topics like grief or anxiety; whether you want to improve your sleep schedule or hone your presentation skills, it’s all welcome.

Serious self-care

Those who prefer the more private approach can delve into self-help resources such as articles and exercises. Additionally, the OpenUp library features short courses and masterclasses covering a wide array of topics, from stress management to finding purpose.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of familial well-being, family members of Picnic employees can access counseling services and resources through OpenUp. This way, we foster a holistic approach to well-being within our organization and private life.

Picnic 🤝 OpenUp — how we make it work

To ensure everyone feels safe and secure when seeking support, confidentiality is a top priority at OpenUp. Whether employees participate in one-on-one counseling sessions, engage in short courses, or explore self-help resources, their privacy remains fully protected. OpenUp does provide Picnic with anonymized data on the number of employees utilizing their services, allowing us to measure the effectiveness of our partnership and make informed decisions about its continuation. In the last year for example, more than 160 people have been supported in one-on-one sessions across the three countries where Picnic is active: The Netherlands, Germany, and France.

To encourage use and spread awareness, we actively promote OpenUp through Slack messages, posters, and additional informational sessions. Furthermore, we ensure that new hires are aware of OpenUp’s availability by including it in our onboarding process on their first day.

This can be especially useful for our expat community. Employees from more than 60 countries are currently employed at Picnic, many of whom have relocated entirely. While it can be an exciting adventure, it comes with its fair share of challenges like cultural differences, language barriers, and homesickness. Through one-on-one sessions, expats can receive guidance and adapt coping strategies to help them navigate life in a new country and create a sense of belonging in their new environment.

Positive outcomes for all

Employees’ well-being is the top priority! In working together with OpenUp, Picnic aims to strengthen its commitment to creating a supportive and thriving work environment. This investment in employee well-being creates and maintains a culture of trust, engagement, and resilience within our organisation. As employees receive the necessary support to navigate personal and professional challenges, we anticipate positive results such as increased morale, productivity, and retention. Additionally, by promoting mental health awareness and providing access to resources for employees and (3) family members, Picnic contributes to building a more compassionate and inclusive workplace culture.

Looking to the future

As Picnic continues this journey with OpenUp, we’re excited about the possibilities it holds for our employees’ well-being. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting our team members in all aspects of their lives, recognizing that their success and happiness are integral to the success of our company.