How the IRFU Builds a High-Trust Workplace Culture

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the National Governing Body for Rugby Union in Ireland, first embarked on their Great Place to Work journey in 2018, with the aim of deepening their understanding of the areas of their workplace culture they needed to invest in. Over the years, through their commitment to employee wellbeing and continuous improvement of their internal culture, they have managed to increase trust levels within the organisation and created an environment where all employees feel they can bring their full selves to work. 

The IRFU's comprehensive approach to improving their culture was enhanced in 2019 with a focus on a culture of wellness and openness, ensuring that staff felt supported in both their work and personal lives. By prioritising these aspects, the leadership team at the IRFU aimed to foster a comfortable and inclusive environment for all employees.

They focused their approach on 3 main areas; wellness, a people first culture, and enhancing their lines of communication so all employees could feel heard.

Wellness

Wellbeing is a critical component of a thriving workplace, and should be the cornerstone of any organisation's approach to creating a supportive workplace. Recognising that a holistic approach to employee health is essential for sustained success, the team at the IRFU exemplified this by focusing on four main pillars to address the diverse aspects of wellbeing: financial wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and mental wellbeing. 

Building on these wellness initiatives, the IRFU has introduced several key policies. Their Right to Disconnect Policy, introduced in 2021, helps maintain a healthy work life balance by establishing clear boundaries between work and personal time, preventing burnout and fostering a more sustainable work environment. Also introduced was self-care leave, providing employees with a half day off per quarter to give them the opportunity to focus on themselves.

Additionally, flexible work arrangements were designed to permit staff members to vary their working hours to balance work responsibilities with domestic commitments. These arrangements allow staff to vary their start and finish times, while still being present in the workplace at certain “core” hours each day.

All these policies, and more, not only demonstrate the IRFU's dedication to their employees' wellbeing but also highlight their proactive approach to creating a supportive and positive workplace. 

Read more on the IRFU's comprehensive wellbeing policies in our Best Workplaces for Health & Wellbeing report below 👇

And check out our webinar featuring Aileen Bailey, Chief People Officer at the IRFU discussing all things wellness 👇

People first culture

The IRFU expanded their people-first culture further in 2022 by implementing a suite of family-friendly policies with the aim of supporting all staff members to find the right balance between home and working life. Arrangements available to employees include first day of school leave, carers support leave, support for employees experiencing difficult family circumstances, reproductive health-related leave and surrogacy leave. 

In addition, the IRFU ran an awareness campaign on domestic violence and abuse through the Women’s Aid Employer Engagement Programme and continues to run online classes so staff can log in at a time that is convenient for them, such as First Aid in the Home, Women’s Health: Menopause, and Men’s Mental Health Hacks. Other supports include Parenting Support, a free 30-minute consultation with a parenting expert in which you can learn how to better understand your child’s world, and support for non-nationals and their families, which comprises a free 30-minute phone consultation with the support team who can talk the person through a range of topics.

These innovative policies showcase the people first culture at the IRFU, who time and time again specifically ensure that staff feel valued, supported, and empowered through these policies. This holistic and proactive approach not only enhanced employee satisfaction and engagement but also showcased the organisation's dedication to creating a supportive and high-performance work environment. The work the team at the IRFU have done over the past few years has been instrumental in maintaining this high-trust workplace culture, and this was reflected clearly by their win of the Culture Improvement Award at Great Place to Work's 2023 Best Workplaces in Ireland awards. 

Chief People Officer Aileen Bailey accepting the Culture Improvement Award at the 2023 Best Workplaces in Ireland awards

The IRFU have also done great work around supporting women in the workplace, having been named a Best Workplace for Women this year. They were also finalists in the Menopause Excellence Awards in 2023, an award issued with The Menopause Hub in partnership with Great Place to Work.

Enhanced communication

A crucial aspect of the IRFU's success has also been their focus on effective communication and feedback mechanisms, which has significantly increased trust levels within the organisation. By implementing two-way communication processes, the IRFU ensured that employee voices were not only heard but also valued, fostering a sense of inclusivity and respect. Regular team briefings kept all staff members informed and engaged, reinforcing transparency and aligning all colleagues with the organisation’s goals.

Additionally, team huddles helped employees to have open discussions and give valuable insights, enabling continuous improvement and addressing any concerns promptly. These platforms help to ensure staff feel connected to the organisation's purpose and also instil confidence in their employees' ability to grow their careers. This emphasis on open communication and feedback has cemented the IRFU's reputation as a supportive and responsive workplace, where trust is built through genuine engagement and mutual respect.

More resources on this topic:

• The Importance of Health & Wellbeing At Work
• 7 Principles for Developing A Great People Strategy
• What Makes a Company a Great Place to Work?
• Managers: Are You Building A Culture of Trust?
• 10 Tips to Foster Employee Engagement Through Internal Communication

The IRFU’s journey on the Great Place to Work programme demonstrates a clear commitment to their staff’s wellbeing and development. By continuously introducing innovative policies and maintaining open communication, they have built a workplace where trust and satisfaction thrive. Their consistent efforts led to their recognition as a Great Place to Work for the fifth consecutive year in 2023, with trust levels soaring to 89%. As they look to the future, the IRFU remains dedicated to enhancing their culture and supporting their team in every possible way.

Check out our exclusive podcast episode of The Red Cube with IRFU Chief People Officer, Aileen Bailey 👇

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. We help organisations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. We recognise Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces™ in more than 60 countries.

To join the thousands of companies that have committed to building high-trust company cultures that help them attract, retain and take care of their people, contact us about getting Certified™ today.