Animal Allies: Ash, Freddie and Goose
Hi, I’m Ash and I’m the Employee Wellbeing Manager at AXA UK and I’ve worked at AXA for 10 years in total. My animal allies are my dogs, Freddie and Goose, who support my wellbeing on a daily basis.
Tell us a little bit about your animal allies.
Freddie and Goose are Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. Freddie is 7 and Goose is 1. Fred is the kindest, most gentle soul. Goose on the other hand is full of mischief!
Do Freddie and Goose have an impact on your physical wellbeing?
Sometimes you hear about dogs who don’t like to go out in the rain. Not mine! They’re not fair-weather dogs. Come rain or shine, we go out. Because of this, there’s never an excuse not to walk them which means I have to get out of the house. Not only do I never regret going out, even if I’m soaked through to my bones, but I come back a better person than I was before I left. Fresh air and being out in the elements is good for the soul.
I can’t put into words the positive impact they have on my mental wellbeing. Fred particularly has been there through some tricky times for my husband and I over the last few years. He’s shouldered a lot – we’ve sadly had 5 miscarriages, and through it all, Fred is there, right next to me. It might sound stupid, but he knows when things are sad and he won’t leave my side. The comfort he brings in tougher times has been such an amazing thing.
Goose plays a slightly less comforting role! He hasn’t been there through as much as Fred, but he makes me laugh on a daily basis. He brings joy to anyone he meets.
Dogs bring out the best in people.
So it sounds like Freddie and Goose have got things handled at home. Do you feel like your wellbeing is supported at work, too?
I’m probably a bit biased being the Employee Wellbeing Manager, but AXA really does support my wellbeing in so many ways, from the services and support through to having the world’s best team, and everything in between. I’d 100% recommend a career at AXA.
We work hard to support our colleagues' mental, physical and financial wellbeing. Keep an eye on our latest vacancies to find a role that’s right for you. Or follow us on LinkedIn to find out more about life at AXA.
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