JUMP TO CONTENT

Open and close mobile menu

back
My shortlist My shortlist My shortlist
EN
My shortlist My shortlist My shortlist
EN

Search

Insights Employee wellbeing is paramount at Atkins

24 April 2020

I'd just started – and I was valued and supported


In 2018 I joined Atkins, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group, as a Technical Consultant in Aerospace, Defence, Security and Technology (ADS&T). The division was expanding on exciting projects and programmes, so I was keen to get my skills in the mix. Little did I know that my personal life was about to be thrown into complete disarray. Here's my experience of the Employee Assistance Programme and being supported by my line managers and colleagues.

Image of an employee smiling

My life turned upside down


While still on probation, I suddenly found myself in a horrendous, emotionally upsetting situation. Reeling on that first day, I went into work knowing I had to deliver on a client's site. But I knew that I wasn't in a "good place." I was worried that my feelings would impact my ability to perform my duties. More importantly, I was deeply concerned that if I opened up, my colleagues might judge me negatively – and that it would jeopardize my probation. 

Reaching out to my line manager


As difficult as it was, I approached my line manager, who listened to what I had to say and immediately empathized. He commended me on being open and honest, saying how difficult it can be to share personal problems, and that I should recognize that as a positive, not a negative. He then calmly explained that he would have to advise HR, and how the organization would do what was right to balance my wellbeing with business needs. I breathed a sigh of relief at the reassurance and support. 

I was referred to our Employee Assistance Programme


Through the programme, I was able to talk to a solicitor about my legal position. This 30-minute discussion really helped me to plan a course of action. I also accessed six counselling sessions, which were immense – an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime. They helped me to formulate coping strategies, sorting the wood from the trees. I was able to release a lot of my anxiety, helping me stay focused on my job. 

I felt human and valued


The counselling made it easier for me to open up to colleagues and was amazed by the support they offered me. I went on to pass my probation, receiving positive feedback from the client and having built an excellent working relationship with my team. I ended up having a very positive first year with Atkins, and I'm happy to say that the external matters are finally resolved.

Assessing Mental Health during lock-down and beyond


image of an employee with a gaming headset on

Shortly after sharing my experience with Atkins colleagues I experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I didn’t understand it at first and I became overwhelmed by an array of emotional and physical issues all at the same time. Thankfully, after a short time the issues began to subside, and I returned to my normal self again. I have taken all the coping strategies that I learned through the Employee Assistance Programme and it has helped me adjust during the Coronavirus lock-down. In fact, I have coped so well that I have been able to help friends and family members during this crisis and it has made a huge difference to their well-being as well as my own. I’m a stronger person now and I continue to thrive at work, recently extending my contract on a project for a year which was only supposed to be a short 3-month project. I'm in a good place and looking forward to the future.

This is a place to thrive


I can say from my experience that Atkins takes the well-being of its employees very seriously, and the support and services we can access are exceptional. As an organization, we can be proud of how we support our employees. I've learnt that by sharing our experiences, we can help others who are struggling and who need support.

Find out how our people's mental health is our priority.

List #1

Our articles

Blueprints and a hard hat on a table with hands writing over the blueprints.
8 reasons to bring your project management career to Saudi Arabia with AtkinsRéalis

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/25/2024

Summary

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is on track to become a global tech hub centered around innovation and digital entrepreneurship.  Vision 2030 has already made waves in transforming the nation’s

Preview

Working in Saudi Arabia is attractive for many on their project management career path.

Read more
A picture of Shaila smiling in a pink jacket
Why more women lead with us

Preview

India

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/24/2024

Summary

Hello! I'm Shaila, Associate Director and IT Business Partner at AtkinsRéalis in India. I lead diverse projects, nurture teams, and champion equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). Using my

Preview

8 reasons AtkinsRéalis is the best workplace for women in engineering and construction

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

Picture of Wannacha smiling in a white shirt.
Exit the comfort zone. For good.

Preview

India

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/23/2024

Summary

Hello! My name is Wannacha, and I joined AtkinsRéalis in Seoul in early 2024 as a process engineer. I'm proud to bring a unique blend of technical expertise and my own cultural insight

Preview

Just four months in, process engineer Wannacha is making her mark on major projects.

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

A picture of Adam Brooks in a suit smiling.
Still going strong forty years on

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/23/2024

Summary

Hello, I'm Adam. And, remarkably, I'm nearing my 40th anniversary with AtkinsRéalis! What started as an ‘apprentice’ as a trainee straight out of school has evolved into a fulfilling career, w

Preview

Celebrating 40 years: Adam's brilliant journey from Trainee to Director with AtkinsRéalis

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

Photo of Mahalakshmi with the AtkinsRéalis logo
Don't pick your kids or your job

Preview

India

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/23/2024

Summary

Hi, my name is Mahalakshmi. I'm an Associate Group Data Architect at AtkinsRéalis and a mother of two. I began my career in September 2010 at Infosys before moving on to a longer stint

Preview

Thrive at BOTH! How Mahalakshmi balances leadership and motherhood.

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

Close up hand signing contract with pen
Are procurement jobs in demand in the Middle East?

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/22/2024

Summary

In 2021, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) inaugurated the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), a collaborative regional approach to address climate change.  The goals of this

Preview

Procurement career paths offer many opportunities for growth and development.

Read more
Graphic representation of faces in different colours.
UK: We made The Times Top 50 for Gender Equality!

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/16/2024

Summary

Fantastic news: AtkinsRéalis has been named one of The Times' Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024! This prestigious honor shows how dedicated everyone at our organization is to promot

Preview

AtkinsRéalis named one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in the UK

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

A Picture of Jo smiling outdoors.
The industry is diverse. Your career should be too

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/16/2024

Summary

My name is Jo, and I'm a nuclear safety engineer at AtkinsRéalis. My primary role is to provide engineering and safety advice during the design and operation of nuclear facilities and for the

Preview

How I'm thriving with variety and significance across nuclear safety

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

Construction projects in Riyadh - the city from an aerial view
How Riyadh plans to become one of the world's biggest city economies

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/12/2024

Summary

Skip to Quantity Surveying jobs in Riyadh The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is in the midst of a period of economic and sustainability-led transformation. Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud (MBS)

Preview

How Saudi Arabia is transforming Riyadh into one of the world’s biggest city economies.

Read more
Photo of Jo smiling for the camera
Bored with your job? Power up to nuclear.

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/11/2024

Summary

Hello! My name is Jo. As a Nuclear Safety Engineer at AtkinsRéalis, my experience so far has seen me work across various project lifecycles - from generic design assessments to nuclear new bui

Preview

How to take your transferable skills into safety engineering in Nuclear & Power

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

Picture of Mei smiling in front of a screen.
Let's talk nature-based water resilience

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/11/2024

Summary

I'm Mei, a chartered engineer with extensive experience in water and wastewater engineering projects in the UK and internationally. I’m the Water Sector Lead and Project Director in AtkinsRéal

Preview

How AtkinsRéalis unites global talent with nature to solve drought, flooding, and pollution incidents.

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

A Picture of Paul smiling.
How we mix risk and innovation at AtkinsRéalis

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

07/10/2024

Summary

Hello. My name is Paul, and I'm the Practice Director for Risk at AtkinsRéalis. Risk management is a dynamic field where problem solvers thrive on keeping projects and programmes secure and on

Preview

Risk management careers: how we're making a tangible difference

Read more

by

Shailaja Mantha

by

Shailaja Mantha

View all