October 2026 Wellbeing Newsletter
October brings cooler days, changing leaves and new opportunities to feel your best. This month, discover simple ways to move more, eat well and strengthen your mental health while building healthy habits that can last beyond the season.
In this issue:
Your Fall Wellbeing Starts Here
Zero Harm Week: Recognizing & Supporting Mental Health Webinar
Mental Health Matters: Your Cigna Benefits Can Help (US-Only)
Stride Together Challenge: Make the Final Week Count
The finish line is almost here! There’s still time to get moving, add steps to your team total and make the most of the final week of Stride Together. Whether you’ve been stepping all month or are just getting started, every step counts.
Go for a Personal Best
Use this final week to challenge yourself. Look back at your step totals from the previous weeks and see if you can beat one of them. Complete your Week 4 bonus activities, keep adding steps and give your team one final boost!
Don’t forget: Add up your steps for the last week and submit your Stride Together Submission Form by Wednesday, October 14 to earn your final Wellbeing Tickets.
You’ve made it this far—now make those final steps count!
Total Wellbeing On-Demand: How to Start the Conversation E-Course
Sometimes, the simplest question, "How are you doing?" can make a meaningful difference.
Mental health is an important part of overall wellbeing, yet stigma can still make it difficult for people to speak up or ask for help. The good news? We can all play a role in creating a more supportive environment by learning how to approach these conversations with empathy, respect, and understanding.
This October, complete the Start the Conversation course to build skills that can help you:
Recognize when someone may need support
Approach mental health conversations with confidence and compassion
Listen effectively and respond in a supportive way
Help reduce stigma and encourage open dialogue
Whether you're supporting a coworker, friend, family member, or focusing on your own wellbeing, these skills can help strengthen connections and foster a culture of care.
Earn Wellbeing Tickets
Complete the Start the Conversation course anytime in October and submit the Total Wellbeing On-Demand Submission Form to earn 5 Wellbeing Tickets.
Take the course today and discover how a simple check-in can help create a more supportive workplace and community.
Total Wellbeing On-Demand: Fall into Healthy Habits
One habit. One month. See what you can build.
New season, new routine! Fall Into Healthy Habits is your chance to focus on one healthy habit and see what happens when you make it a regular part of your day.
Choose one habit you’d like to build or strengthen this month. It can be something you’ve been wanting to do more consistently or a simple change that could make your days feel a little healthier.
Need an idea? Try:
💧 Drink more water
🚶 Take a daily walk
😴 Get 7+ hours of sleep
🥕 Add a fruit or vegetable to lunch
📵 Take a screen break
🧘 Practice 5 minutes of mindfulness
Have another habit in mind? Make it your own! The best habit is one that works for you.
Keep Track of Your Progress
Use the Fall Into Healthy Habits Tracker to check off each day you complete your habit. Watch your progress add up throughout the month and see how consistently you can stick with it. If you miss a day, simply continue with your habit the following day and keep working toward your goal.
Earn Rewards
Every day you complete your habit is an opportunity to earn a Wellbeing Ticket. Stick with it throughout the month and your daily efforts can add up to even more rewards. The more days you commit to your habit, the more tickets you can earn!
Earn 1 Wellbeing Ticket for each day you complete your habit.
Earn 10 bonus Wellbeing Tickets when you complete your habit on 20 or more days.
Ready to Get Started?
This is your chance to start small, stay consistent and see how far one month can take you. Choose your habit. Check it off. Keep going. Download the tracker and start building your new routine this fall!
Total Wellbeing On-Demand: What's Cooking - Fall Favorites Edition
Pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, chili, soups and everything cozy — fall has no shortage of delicious favorites. Now we want to know what’s on your table!
Do you have a recipe that everyone asks you to make? A family favorite passed down through the years? Or a healthier twist on a classic fall dish? This is your chance to put your favorite recipe in the spotlight!
🍎 Share Your Favorite
Submit a favorite recipe that says fall to you. It can be a breakfast, main dish, side, snack, dessert or drink — if you love it, we want to see it!
🎟️ Submit your recipe and earn 1 Wellbeing Ticket.
👀 See What’s Cooking
Your recipe could be featured throughout October, along with favorites submitted by your Serco colleagues. Check out what others are making, get inspired and maybe find your new go-to fall recipe.
🏆 Then Pick Your Favorite
Once we've showcased the recipes, you'll get to vote! Help us decide which recipes deserve bragging rights in categories like:
🍁 Best Fall Favorite
🥕 Best Healthy Twist
👩🍳 Most Creative
⏱️ Best Quick & Easy
Ready to share what’s cooking in your kitchen?
Submit your favorite recipe, cheer on your coworkers and cast your vote for the recipes you can't wait to try!
Mindful Moment: Find Calm This Fall
Pause the to-do list. Press play. Take a breath. When the days get busier, it can be easy to move from one task to the next without stopping to check in with yourself. A few intentional minutes of mindfulness can help you pause, settle your thoughts and return your attention to the present.
This month, choose from two short guided meditations designed to help you create a little more space in your day:
🍂 Autumn Pause: Take a few quiet minutes to slow your pace and reconnect with the present moment. Inspired by the sights, sounds and feeling of fall, this guided meditation uses calming breaths and simple mindfulness techniques to help you release tension and find a sense of calm.
🎧 Headspace 5-Minute Confidence Boost: Need a quick reset before a meeting, presentation or busy part of your day? This Headspace meditation offers a short, focused opportunity to pause, refocus and reconnect with a more confident mindset.
Make Your Mindful Moment Count
Complete a Mindful Moment activity and earn 1 Wellbeing Ticket. Try both Autumn Pause and the 5-Minute Confidence Boost to earn up to 2 tickets this month.
Take a few minutes for yourself this October and give your mind the space to pause, reset and refocus.
New Wellbeing Academy: Make the Most of the Holiday Season
The holidays can be a time of celebration and connection, but they can also bring added expenses, busy schedules, changing routines and extra stress. The Wellbeing Academy: Holiday Series brings together practical resources to help you navigate the season with greater ease and make choices that support your wellbeing.
Explore the holiday learning lineup below and find resources to support you this season.
TELUS Health: Holiday Budgeting Webinar
ADAA: Navigating Stress and Anxiety Over the Holidays Webinar
TELUS Health: Keeping it Simple Over the Holiday Season Article
TELUS Health: How to Manage Holiday Stress Article
Northwestern University: Healthy Holiday Eating Article
ADAA: Minimize Holiday FOMO Article
Make Your Learning Count
Turn your holiday learning into Wellbeing Tickets! Complete the recommended activities and add a few of your own to earn even more by December 31!
1 Wellbeing Ticket for each recommended activity completed
3 bonus Wellbeing Tickets when you complete 3 additional wellbeing activities of your choice
Finish the year strong by learning something new, finding strategies that work for you and taking a few practical steps toward a healthier holiday season.
Announcing the Q3 Wellbeing in Action Winners
What does wellbeing in action look like?
Sometimes it's creating a workplace where people feel safe speaking up. Sometimes it's encouraging healthy habits through everyday conversations. And sometimes it's stepping up to support colleagues and the community whenever help is needed.
This quarter, we're proud to recognize three employees whose actions have made a lasting impact on those around them. Join us in celebrating the Q3 Wellbeing in Action Winners: Brandon Ramirez, Somme Amare, and Jim Worrell.
Q3 Wellbeing in Action Winners
🏆 Brandon Ramirez
Brandon has been an active participant in Serco Wellbeing programs, completing multiple Rise to the Challenge activities and demonstrating a strong commitment to his own wellbeing. Beyond participating, Brandon has helped raise awareness of Serco Wellbeing by proudly displaying his earned challenge badges in his email signature.
What started as a personal commitment to wellbeing has also helped promote wellbeing throughout the organization, sparking awareness and encouraging others to explore available programs and challenges. Brandon's commitment to personal wellbeing and his efforts to promote employee participation make him a great example of Wellbeing in Action.
🏆 Sommer Amare
Sommer believes wellbeing is built through small, consistent actions. Over the past year, she has encouraged conversations about health, fitness, nutrition, and work-life balance, helping create a culture where colleagues support one another and share ideas for maintaining healthy habits.
One example of her impact was helping spark greater interest in physical activity within her office. Through everyday conversations and leading by example, wellbeing became a common topic of discussion, and nearly every member of the office eventually joined the base fitness facility.
🏆 Jim Worrell
Nominated by Shaunna Altman, Jim consistently demonstrates the spirit of Wellbeing in Action through his commitment to volunteering, supporting workplace events, and helping others whenever needed.
Whether participating in team activities or community initiatives, Jim is always willing to lend a hand and encourages others to get involved. One example that stood out was his participation in the Clean Up Moose Jaw community event, where he volunteered throughout the day despite cold and windy weather, maintaining a positive attitude from start to finish.
His enthusiasm, reliability, and dedication help create a workplace culture where employees feel connected, valued, and supported.
“His positive energy motivates those around him and helps make every initiative a success.”
Congratulations again to our Q3 Wellbeing in Action winners! Their stories remind us that wellbeing is built through everyday actions, meaningful connections, and a commitment to making a positive difference.
Submit Your Final Wellbeing in Action Nomination of 2026
As we approach the final Wellbeing in Action nominations of 2026, now is the perfect time to reflect on the impact you've made or the impact you've seen others make throughout the year. Whether it's supporting a colleague, encouraging healthy habits, giving back to the community, or taking steps to improve personal wellbeing, every story has the power to inspire.
Know a story that deserves to be recognized? Submit a Wellbeing in Action nomination and help us celebrate the people who are making a difference across Serco.
Save the Date: Zero Harm Week - Recognizing & Supporting Mental Health Webinar
Mental Health: Recognize & Respond Webinar with TELUS HealthOctober 9 | 2:00 p.m. ET
Mental health is part of everyone’s wellbeing, and creating a supportive workplace starts with knowing how to recognize when someone may be struggling—and feeling confident about what to do next.
As part of Zero Harm Week and in recognition of World Mental Health Day, join TELUS Health for Mental Health: Recognize & Respond, an interactive webinar focused on turning awareness into meaningful action.
From Awareness to Action
Mental health challenges aren’t always obvious. Sometimes the signs are subtle—a change in behavior, increased withdrawal, difficulty concentrating or simply seeming unlike themselves. Learning to notice these signals can be an important first step toward offering support.
During this session, you’ll explore practical strategies for:
Recognizing subtle signs that a colleague may be experiencing a mental health challenge
Starting compassionate conversations with empathy, respect and understanding
Responding appropriately when someone may need support
Breaking down workplace stigma and creating space for open, respectful conversations
Building psychological safety where people feel valued, understood and supported
Through interactive learning, you’ll gain approachable tools for having genuine conversations and responding with empathy—while respecting each person’s dignity and individual experience.
Take this opportunity to strengthen your understanding, build your confidence and learn how small moments of support can make a meaningful difference.
🎟️ Earn 5 Wellbeing Tickets for attending the live webinar!
Health Literacy Month: Know Your Health. Make Informed Choices
October is Health Literacy Month—a reminder that understanding your health and healthcare can make a difference. From knowing what your benefits cover to understanding a prescription, preparing for a doctor’s visit or knowing when to get a screening, having the right information can help you make decisions with confidence.
Being informed can also help you take a more active role in your health. When you know what to look for, what questions to ask and where to find reliable information, it’s easier to take action and stay on top of your health.
A few simple ways to strengthen your health knowledge:
Know your benefits: Take time to understand what’s covered, what preventive services are available and where to find helpful resources.
Ask questions: If something isn’t clear, ask your healthcare provider to explain it in a way that makes sense to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for more information.
Know your numbers: Keep track of important health information, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and talk with your healthcare provider about what your numbers mean.
Stay on top of preventive care: Know which screenings, checkups and vaccines are recommended for you based on your age, health history and risk factors.
Use reliable sources: When looking for health information, turn to trusted sources such as your healthcare provider, health plan or reputable health organizations.
This month, take a few minutes to learn something new about your health or benefits. The more you know, the more prepared you are to make informed choices about your health.
Mental Health Matters: Your Cigna Benefits Can Help (US Only)
When was the last time you checked in on your mental wellbeing?
We're often quick to address physical health concerns, but stress, emotional wellbeing, sleep, and mental resilience can be just as important to our overall health. World Mental Health Day on October 10 serves as a reminder to pause, reflect, and make mental wellbeing a priority.
Whether you're navigating a challenging life event, feeling overwhelmed by daily stress, struggling with anxiety, or simply looking for ways to build healthier habits, support is available.
If you're enrolled in a Cigna medical plan, you have access to Cigna Total Behavioral Health, a comprehensive suite of mental health and wellbeing resources designed to support a wide range of needs. Cigna Total Behavioral Health brings together professional care, digital tools, and self-guided resources to help you find the support that's right for you.
Available resources include:
Access to licensed behavioral health professionals for concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
Virtual and in-person care options to make accessing support more convenient.
Headspace for guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, sleep support, focus tools, and everyday stress management.
Additional digital programs and behavioral health tools designed to help build resilience and support emotional wellbeing.
Mental health support isn't just for times of crisis. It can also help you manage everyday challenges, build healthy coping skills, improve emotional wellbeing, and create habits that support long-term health.
This World Mental Health Day, take a few moments to explore the resources available through your Cigna benefits and discover the support that's available when you need it.
View the Cigna Total Behavioral Health Guide to explore available programs, support options, and wellbeing resources, or log in to myCigna to get started.
Exclusive Home Buying Benefits with Rate (US Only)
Thinking about buying a home, refinancing, or helping a family member with their next move? Serco employees have access to exclusive mortgage benefits through Rate that could help make the process a little easier—and potentially save you money.
Through the Serco program, eligible employees, friends and family can receive $1,640 in lender fee savings when they buy or refinance with Rate, along with a free home appraisal valued up to $500. Employees purchasing or selling a home may also be eligible for $650–$6,000 in cash back through the Rate Homes program.
Rate offers a variety of loan options, including FHA, VA and Jumbo loans, along with a digital mortgage process designed to make getting pre-approved and managing your application simpler.
Ready to explore your options? Visit the Serco Rate page to learn more, review the offer details and get started.
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