What is it like at BA when it comes to maintaining a good work-life balance and looking after your mental health?

Hi Jazz, British Airways support flexible working, with hybrid roles that support a healthy work life balance. I am generally in the office two days a week and spend two days working from home, this seems to be a good split and works for me and my young children in order to get the right work life balance. Temporary part time working requests or even part time roles & job shares are also supported if that is something that would support you getting the right balance. In terms of mental health, i have weekly check points with my manager to discuss workload and priorities, and support is offered if i need it. We also have mental health first aiders in most teams/departments & also subscriptions to portals like Unmind.

Hi Jazz -

Roles in aviation, particularly for cabin crew and pilots, can be demanding due to irregular hours and time zone changes so maintaining a good work-life balance and prioritising mental health are important aspects of workplace culture at British Airways. There are flexible working arrangements to help employees balance personal and professional commitments, competitive annual leave and parental leave policies and lots of great part-time options.

We have a fantastic pilot support program called Speedbird Pan that offers trained peer-to-peer counselling for both personal and work-related challenges, financial advice and other resources to help staff manage stress. We also have mentoring programmes for newly qualified and trainee pilots to connect with those more experienced.

The nature of the job means that shift work is a reality. There are systems in place to manage rosters, ensuring employees have some autonomy to choose their own trips and timings, along with the ability to guarantee a certain amount of days off in a year for important personal engagements.

Mental health awareness is also very important at British Airways, there is training for all to recognise signs of stress or mental health issues and resources provided for employees as well. We have wellness programs, mindfulness workshops and access to mental health apps to promote overall wellbeing.