Men's wellbeing in the workplace - Ryan Doran

At Carbon, we believe that it is important for all our employees to be heard, supported, and have a voice. As an employer, it is important to us that we understand and are equipped to deal with the issues that individuals and groups face in today’s society, giving confidence to our team that we are there for them, as they are for our clients.

Earlier this year, we ran a campaign for International Women’s Day featuring our female employees at all levels of the business. In the spirit of equality and encouraging all employees to speak out about challenges and barriers they are looking to overcome, we have spoken to some male colleagues within the business to get their perspective.

Tell me about your role with Carbon and what is involved day to day?

I’m in the client services team so every day is different. I’m responsible for a lot of the follow up from planning meetings and managing ad hoc client requests to support my colleagues.

What has been your career experience to date?

I studied finance at Herriot Watt and then I secured a job at another IFA in Edinburgh where I was introduced to this world. I moved to Carbon in May this year and it’s been a great opportunity to develop my skills so far.

What are the key issues facing men at the moment and why do you think it is important that they are highlighted?

The call and drive for men to open up about their feelings is still fairly new, it’s a great thing that this is being highlighted, but past generations may not feel so comfortable that traditional masculine values are starting to be challenged.

As an employer, what support do Carbon give their employees who are potentially facing challenges?

Firstly, the whole team including senior leadership are all open and approachable. We also have fully trained mental health first aiders who take their role very seriously and act when required. I definitely feel with some of the policies we have in place that there is a proactive attitude rather than a reactive attitude, so we all feel supported by our colleagues.

What else could be changed in society to better support men to speak out about any issues and difficulties they are facing?

I think it’s really around just making talking and sharing experiences more common place. It’s something that my generation feels comfortable doing which is great so I would really like other men that are in different stages of life to reassess any preconceived attitudes around bottling up things and just hoping issues will go away.

What men have had a positive influence on you, both in your career and personal life?

My younger brother, he is really supportive and has always been a great listener. I feel like I can go to him for anything. My Dad is also a great support as well.

What do you do to stay mentally healthy?

Getting outdoors is a big one for me and Carbon as an employer try to encourage that as much as possible. Other things that I do are things like spending time with friends and family and always having something nice planned to look forward to that can help me unwind after a busy day.