Jagex: Fostering Mental Wellbeing Through Core Values

Over the past decade, mental health has evolved from an overlooked issue to a global concern. The gaming industry has had to introspect to ensure that its actions align with its intentions, and that its culture supports the mental wellbeing of its employees. At Jagex, promoting positive mental health has always been a vital aspect of our culture. We were among the first to champion initiatives that could make a difference in the lives of our employees. However, we recognized that dedicated counseling support and programs encouraging transparency around mental health were not enough; we needed to do more. Our new Chief People Officer, Keeley Vaughan-Davies, is committed to ensuring that our strong start in mental health support is just the beginning. With her extensive experience in implementing cultural change in financial technology industries, Vaughan-Davies believes in giving people the support they need to excel. She emphasizes that culture and values are essential to our business and that they should not be viewed as merely an HR initiative. At Jagex, our people are passionate about being part of a cultural movement, and they actively participate in building and embedding it into the business. Recently, we redefined our culture through a collaborative process involving numerous workshops. This process allowed us to define our culture together, taking into account our values, communication with staff, and how we support our employees. We also examined how we can ensure that everyone is on the same path to success. For Vaughan-Davies, building a culture is a series of conversations that require the participation of all employees. It's not something that can be imposed from the top down. Our people need to be part of creating the culture from the beginning. Mental health is at the heart of our vision, and it's a crucial aspect of the culture we're creating. We recognize the importance of inclusivity, respect, and giving everyone a voice. Our values emphasize the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion. Vaughan-Davies explains that our goal is to create a culture where people feel comfortable being themselves, without fear of judgment. We want to provide a psychologically safe environment where everyone can bring their unique experiences and perspectives to the table. Clarity is also essential, as we need to be transparent about who we are and what we stand for. This transparency will allow people to make informed decisions about whether Jagex is the right fit for them. We're excited to launch our Level-Up partnership with Safe In Our World, which demonstrates our commitment to mental health and wellbeing. Our journey ahead is defined, and we'll know we've succeeded when our people are energized by our culture and understand what it looks like. We'll hire people who share our values, and our leaders will clearly articulate our culture. We're working towards creating a positive impact on our business efficiency, transparency, and clarity. Everything we value will be reflected in everything we do, and this is what Vaughan-Davies is working towards.