Great-West Life congratulates Mindful Employer Canada for launch of leader training program

Collaboration with the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace leads to development of new resource for people leaders looking to resolve workplace issues

WINNIPEG, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - On October 2, Mindful Leader – a new six-course certification program – will launch in Toronto.

The program was developed by Mindful Employer Canada, with support from the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. It consists of six-modules designed to teach people leaders how to resolve workplace issues in a confident, competent and psychologically safe way.

Leaders who complete all six courses and achieve the Mindful Leader certification will become part of an elite group of people leaders that will be better able to help organizations meet the requirements of the National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.

"As one of the original founders of Mindful Employer Canada, I'm so proud of their latest achievement," said Mary Ann Baynton, Program Director, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. "Mindful Leader will become the national mark of exceptional leaders – the ones we all hope to work for!"

Of the six modules, the first is Foundations for Mindful Leadership. It's a prerequisite for all other modules. Throughout the year, module sessions will be hosted in cities across Canada, often at Great-West Life venues.

"We created the Mindful Leader certification program because we need to give our people leaders the opportunity to improve how they resolve issues in the workplace," said Sarah Jenner, Executive Director, Mindful Employer Canada. "Even if your organization has the best policies and processes, you won't see improvements in results if your people leaders aren't comfortable enacting them."

"This is why 50 per cent of each Mindful Leader program session is hands-on learning. We teach your people leaders how to resolve these issues in a way that doesn't cause harm, but respects everyone involved. Then we have them use these techniques in-class so we can address any challenges they may have in the moment. At the end of each in-class module, participants can walk away with the confidence and tools to be a great leader."

Visit the Mindful Leader website for more information on session dates and times.

About the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
Established in 2007, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace is a leading source of practical ideas, tools and resources designed to help with the prevention, intervention and management of workplace mental health issues. Around the world, Canada is recognized as an international leader in workplace mental health. Many individuals and organizations have contributed to this distinction and it has been a privilege for the Centre to have played a part in many of their important initiatives. For more information, visit the Centre's website at workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com.

About Mindful Employer Canada
Mindful Employer Canada is a not-for-profit social enterprise launched in 2014 in appreciation for the employers, union reps and managers across Canada who strive to support employees in a psychologically safe way. They recognize the personal cost and effort required and wanted to provide a community of support for those striving toward Mindful Leadership.

Mindful Employer is not about "being perfect." It signifies an awareness of the impact we have on the mental health of others in the workplace and an intention to support a mentally healthy workplace. For more information, visit the website at mindfulemployer.ca.

About The Great-West Life Assurance Company
Great-West Life is a leading Canadian insurer, focused on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. For more than 125 years, our customers across Canada have trusted us to provide for their financial security needs and deliver on the promises we have made. Together with our subsidiaries London Life and Canada Life, we serve the financial security needs of 13 million people across Canada. To learn more, visit Greatwestlife.com.

SOURCE Great-West Life Assurance Company

Amanda Hope, Associate Manager, Corporate Communications, Great-West Life, 204-946-4232, [email protected]