P-André Boullé: “Wellness training is built around experience sharing”
Why did you decide to offer ‘Wellness’ training to the Group’s employees?
The ‘Wellness’ training programs stem from multiple factors. On one hand, Jacques Rohan, Group Safety and Health Manager, raised an alert on the need to consider psychosocial risks in the workplace. On the other hand, Gina Casset, our Social and Family Counselor, observed emerging issues, particularly since 2020.
What new issues have been identified?
Various issues affecting specific socio-professional categories or age groups have been observed. Without generalizing—and even if it concerns only a small fraction of our colleagues—we have a duty to remain attentive. Some individuals struggle with resilience in the face of change, while others experience a sense of fatigue or even moral exhaustion. More serious concerns have also been detected.
On a more positive note, many employees are questioning their aspirations. We see a desire to refocus, regain balance, stop passively enduring events, and instead find the answers and tools to assert themselves, improve, or rebuild self-confidence.
Our training programs complement the already extensive ‘learning & development’ offerings from Newskills, as well as the ‘work-life balance’ initiatives provided by ACS.
How can these training programs help employees in both their professional and personal lives?
Initially, we focused on stress and anxiety, which are often the root causes of many challenges. Our goal was to offer simple and concrete solutions, such as learning to recognize the symptoms of stress or anxiety and equipping employees with the necessary resources to better manage pressure and difficult moments. It was essential to provide methods that help individuals regain a sense of serenity and balance in their daily lives.
What are the main characteristics of these training programs?
The training programs are accessible to everyone and are built around experience sharing, based on the principles of andragogy (i.e., adult learning and training). They have clear objectives focused on knowledge, skills, and interpersonal development. Participants also engage in an immersive experience using active or reflective approaches.
We wanted to stand out by addressing stress and anxiety issues and providing tools to better manage them through methods aligned with our corporate culture. These include art therapy, theatrical techniques, mindfulness meditation, active listening, as well as physical and sports activities.
The training programs are registered in collaboration with Newskills, and our training catalog is already available for consultation.