In this episode we delve into an enlightening conversation with Fred Thiele, Vice President for Global Benefits and Mobility at Microsoft. With over 200,000 employees worldwide, Microsoft places a strong emphasis on employee well-being, especially mental health. Fred discusses how Microsoft approaches employee well-being, benefits, and mental health.

Fred highlights the importance of open communication around mental health and the need to destigmatize discussions about it in the workplace. He shares how Microsoft launched a campaign with the slogan "It's OK not to be OK," which significantly impacted the company culture by encouraging employees to be their authentic selves and seek help when needed.

Additionally, Fred discusses the role of managers in promoting employee well-being and how Microsoft is providing training to help managers have supportive conversations with their team members. He emphasizes the company's continuous improvement approach in the well-being space, particularly in the realm of mental health. The episode underscores the importance of proactive well-being initiatives and destigmatizing mental health struggles in the workplace.

Find Fred Thiele online: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-thiele-4a664a/

Follow the host Vera Siertsema for more updates of the State of Mind episodes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verasiertsema/