5 Ways to Support Developer Mental Health
20231005
According to research, a whopping 83% of developers report burnout. Developers need their brains in good shape to do the work that they do. However, as many companies now operate hybrid and remote working models it can be a little more difficult to spot who seems a bit flat when we aren’t in the same place. At mkodo, we’re proud of the way in which we encourage our teams to take good care of their mental wellbeing. Particularly our software development talent as the tech industry can be a very difficult place to prioritise wellness.
Here is a list of just five of the ways in which we support our developers (and the whole team) at mkodo.
1. Flexibility
Since moving to a hybrid working model, we truly understand what our employees value most, and that’s flexibility. We give all our employees the autonomy to manage their day in a way that best suits them.
Whether it’s an early lunch, taking the dog for a walk at 3pm or a later start to get a workout in before starting their day. We encourage autonomy and realise that the ability to have a bit more “life” alongside work is beneficial for well-being, especially at times when things might be a little tough.
2. Autonomy
Moving to a hybrid model also gives our developers a choice around where they work. Mixing up working environments can help with creativity and gives even more autonomy around how our employees structure their week. Saying that, we understand that getting started in a WFH setting can be costly (new chairs, second monitors, desks etc.) therefore we give all employees a home office bonus upon starting with mkodo - another gesture that eases the stress that can come with starting a new job remotely.
3 & 4. Collaboration and teamwork
Working as a team is essential for developers to overcome obstacles, find solutions and deliver exceptional results. Communication and collaboration are at the core of mkodo and how we operate. We’re all about empowering each other to share ideas (no matter how ambitious), ask lots of questions and to aim for new heights. This open way of working supports the positive mental health of our developer, as effective teamwork can reduce stress and keep workloads manageable.
Issues that could take months to be solved can be dealt with far more rapidly when we put our heads together. Different points of view and new perspectives increase the chance of a problem being resolved faster reducing stress.
Not only that, it empowers our developers to speak up without fear of being judged. This in turn, helps to build stronger relationships within and across teams. Particularly in a predominantly remote set up our collaborative culture helps everyone to get involved in innovation and decision making which ties back to autonomy - giving our developers a greater sense of control, helping them to feel happier at work.
5. Continuous learning
Developers are lifelong learners. The industry changes so quickly that great developers are constantly investing in themselves, their knowledge and their skills.
As a tech company, we understand the growth and continuous learning of our developers is an invaluable investment for their wellbeing. Before a new developer even starts with us, they are able to order a book of their choosing to help them progress in their new role. Not only that, we regularly send our developers on learning days, such as the React Summit, where they can learn about new technologies.
We also operate our own graduate scheme, the Evolve Scheme. mkodo's Evolve Scheme was founded by Stuart Godfree over five years ago. Since then, Stuart has built a programme focused on investing in the next generation of talented individuals looking to start their careers in the mobile applications technology field.
The graduate Evolve Scheme aims to equip enrollees with the necessary skills to become permanent members of the mkodo team. For graduates joining mkodo in a specified discipline, from day one, their initiative, technical skills and problem-solving ability affect business performance on client projects.
With growth and continuous learning being one of our core values, we understand that personal growth is essential to developer wellbeing. It enables employees to develop their skills which in turn helps them to feel valued, gives a greater sense of purpose and shows our commitment to them and their career success.
There you have it, three ways that mkodo prioritises the wellbeing of our hard-working developers. While it can be difficult for individuals to always prioritise their own wellness, we’ll always do our best to ensure our developers are the best versions of themselves - which starts with prioritising what’s important to them and the environment in which they work.
If you're a developer looking for the next step in your career, check out our careers page for the open opportunities we have at the moment and more info on what it's like to work at mkodo.
