Communication is key as Covid-19 places mental wellbeing top of the agenda: Aon’s Christian

Maintaining consistent communication is key in safeguarding the mental health of both individuals and teams, according to Dominic Christian, global chairman of reinsurance solutions, Aon.

Speaking to The Insurer during this year’s Dive In Festival, Christian noted that the mass transition towards working from home spurred on by the Covid-19 pandemic has placed a focus on mental health and what firms can do to better support their colleagues.

“Everyone has to show that they care but that’s not always easy in these circumstances,” he said in a video interview.

“You need to be in an organisation that has methods and processes of allowing communication but also support networks for those that are finding things a little more difficult than they would otherwise.”

Another key area that has been brought to the fore in recent months is the momentum around the black lives matter (BLM) movement and racial equality, a subject which Christian says needs to be a key focus for the London market, particularly in its search for talent.

A large proportion of graduates from London universities are of an ethic minority background and the London (re)insurance market should be reflective of that, Christian explained.

“We need to attract as much talent as possible to the City to make it a better place; this cannot be seen as another country,” he said. “This has to be a place where we attract people to the benefit of our clients and our organisations.”

Reverse mentoring has been an “inspirational” tool in helping executives and those established in the market to better understand younger colleagues but also an important customer base, he added.

“What is really so valuable is that it enables you to understand a whole area of the world that you understand less,” Christian explained.

“People in their twenties tend to have a much more liberal and centered approach to inclusion and diversity and demand it of us more than people of my generation. I find that very inspirational.”

The importance of mental health awareness and racial diversity are just some of the key D&I issues under the microscope during this year’s DiveIn Festival which has grown to be a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures. 

“It’s probably the most important DiveIn we have ever done given the circumstances in which we find ourselves,” Christian concluded.

The Insurer is a proud media partner of #DiveIn2020.

Visit www.diveinfestival.com and find out what is in store in the digital festival programme!