When our colleagues are well, they thrive, and so does the business, meaning customers feel the difference too.
At M&S, we know that the success of our business and our colleagues' wellbeing are mutually dependent. Our wellbeing strategy aims for a supportive and inclusive workplace that nurtures healthy minds and lifestyles, no matter whether colleagues work in our Stores, Support Centres or Distribution Centres. 

Our Colleagues

Mental wellbeing matters for every colleague, so equipping managers and front-line teams with the right training, tools and conversations is core to a healthy, supportive workforce.

Mental health affects all of us at some point, and we see it as our responsibility to give colleagues the tools and support they need to look after their wellbeing.

As part of our commitment, we provide our line managers across the business with guidance and practical tips for supporting colleagues with mental and physical health concerns. Our People Policy team provides advice and support to managers, and our Health and Wellbeing partners at PAM Assist offer counselling and therapy services, occupational health assessments and advice, and physiotherapy where needed. The Champion Health app is available to all M&S colleagues and provides education, support and practical advice on managing physical and mental health.  

Inclusion, diversity and mental health go hand in hand, and our Health & Wellbeing colleague network is a key part of our wider community of colleague networks. It is an internal platform led by colleagues, for colleagues, to share stories and support their peers, and gives colleagues a safe space to discuss mental health. As one of our key Inclusion networks at M&S, the Health & Wellbeing network works closely with senior sponsors on our executive board, directly influencing business decisions to make M&S a more supportive and accessible place to work. 

A person in a striped shirt smiling

Our Benefits

A practical, accessible benefits package, with day-one wellbeing support and financial education, helps every colleague look after their physical, mental and financial health.

We are proud to offer our colleagues a range of benefits to help them prioritise their health and wellbeing.

Our partners at PAM Assist provide colleagues with expert wellbeing and mental health support, with counselling and therapy services for colleagues who need them, as well as physiotherapy. PAM Assist is available from day 1 of employment at M&S, and this support is signposted in our policies and guides for colleagues and managers.  

Working with our Occupational Health provider, we have introduced a new Wellbeing App that gives colleagues access to enhanced tools and support to manage their wellbeing day to day.

Through our partnership with YoungMinds, we provide additional training to colleagues dedicated to young people's mental health, helping them become "trusted adults" for the young people in their lives, in their personal lives and at work. We are proud that our colleagues and customers can get involved in the community work we do to raise awareness of young people's mental health in our stores and in schools across the UK through this partnership.

After 12 weeks of service, we offer a Virtual GP service for all colleagues and their immediate family, providing medical support through our partner Health Hero. We also partner with Check4Cancer to provide breast screening for women aged 40 to 49 (NHS screening starts at 50), as well as screening for colleagues at high risk of cancer outside existing NHS support. Discounts on physical and online gym memberships are available to our colleagues from day 1.

Financial wellbeing benefits we offer include:

  • Cushon, a provider that helps colleagues save every month. 
  • Salary Finance, through which colleagues can access repayable loans and financial education. 
  • Pension savings. 
  • M&S Bank offers and preferential rates. 
  • We are also proud to partner with GroceryAid, the Retail Trust and the Fashion and Textile Children's Trust. Through these charities, our colleagues can access practical, emotional and financial support tailored for those working in retail.