David Robertson is the Managing Director and Principle Developer of software house JADER Ltd, based on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Here, the mental health awareness advocate explains why his business has become the third key partner for Folk Features
To remind readers, who are you and what do you do?
My name is David Andrew Robertson. I live in Kirby Cane, South Norfolk. I am essentially a computer programmer. In some ways I prefer that description instead of Developer or Systems Architect, both of which I may be also. I tend to like to boil descriptions down to the lowest form as I believe from that lowest form, we strive to prove ourselves every step of the way. And I do. I would comfortably take on a System Architect in a discussion about coding and solutions of a technical nature. My professional nature is not obvious as I am also Bipolar and react slightly differently to those that might not carry such diagnosis. I might be more careful, or cautious for the label that I wear, and where is the harm in that? When you look more closely, though, you might find I am also a poet, learning musician and spiritual being who believes in God. Moi? You is what you are, as Frank Zappa once sung.
How has everything been for you since we last featured you?
I have been ok since last being featured in Folk Features. In some ways my previously published article, Creativity out of chaos – Folk Features, was an outlet for me. I like to expose the “fanciful”, although to me rather real, world that belongs to this Bipolar mind of mine. Things that to some are conceptual become real in my world, it makes navigation quite troublesome at times. I am learning though and can generally find ways forward, where others are stumped. So, since the last article I have been learning, and it might have given me a boost in my learning which is always consistent and accurate.
In what ways are you a mental health awareness advocate in the workplace?
Without bringing specifics of my team into play here, I shall describe my wish. I would like a company that can employ people rather than just zero hour contract them. I would like to be able to afford them a holistic treatment every month on company time, so they receive wellbeing comfort for working in my business environment. I look at how I would have benefitted in previous jobs and apply that to my working modus operandi. I like to accommodate the ideas of the people in my team and allow an open forum for airing their ideas. I found in previous jobs my ideas were toned down or stepped on and therefore the job became a lot less fun. So, I suppose the way forward is to have “controlled” fun and thus evenness or semi-happiness would occur.
How important is it to be focusing on wellbeing in the workplace in the current climate?
Wellbeing in the current climate is possibly the difference between a company surviving or not surviving in the world as it is turning out. Very large companies that employ many thousands of people are no less susceptible to lack or negative wellbeing. I suppose wellbeing can be likened to the health indicator in an e-sports game. As the target (the company in question) is “hit” with competitive energy the health within the company goes down, regeneration can occur using wellbeing techniques, however, if not sufficient the regenerations are not completing, and a downturn becomes active. When the Wellbeing level becomes less than, say, 50% that might in fact be the death knell and employees shall go off sick or leave. All the training and abilities of those staff is lost, and the company cannot regain its “dominant” or “competitive” position, and thus fail.
Why are you keen to align your business with Folk Features? What is it about the website that you believe is worth supporting?
The Folk Features site has an ethos which I admire. Would it not be a good world when stories that feature on a site are true and well represented? So, the good truths exposed by the Folk Features Site are, I believe, worth propagating and if JADER Ltd can support the exposing and propulsion of truth then we shall. I am delighted with this opportunity to help. I would advise any sensible and positive spin business to become involved in the community that is evolving with the Folk Features Blog. Well done.
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