Key facts
- Wellness practices such as ice-bathing, fasting, and breathwork are becoming normalized in London's financial district.
- The FIX EMEA trading conference included a Wellness Hub, indicating a shift in corporate attitudes towards employee wellbeing.
- Poor employee mental health costs UK employers £51 billion annually, with the financial sector experiencing high burnout rates.
- The author, Photis Kassianides, observed this trend firsthand at the conference and through his divorce coaching service.
- A 'Walk & Talk' event for divorced men in South London attracted hedge fund and banking professionals.
Wellness practices, once dismissed in London's financial district, are now becoming increasingly common among City professionals. This shift was evident at the FIX EMEA trading conference, where a dedicated Wellness Hub offered services like breathwork and Pilates, alongside traditional financial industry presence.
Photis Kassianides, founder of divorce coaching service Emotional Equity and a former 25-year veteran of equity trading floors at institutions including JP Morgan, UBS, and Bank of America Merril Lynch, observed this change firsthand. He notes that topics previously kept private, such as stress, burnout, and divorce, are now openly discussed. The author also organized a 'Walk & Talk' event for divorced men in South London, which attracted hedge fund and banking professionals, highlighting a growing engagement with mental and emotional wellbeing services.
The article touches on broader themes including the cost of poor employee mental health, estimated at £51 billion annually for UK employers, and the particular prevalence of burnout in the UK financial sector. It also includes personal anecdotes from Kassianides, such as a trip to a Florence + The Machine concert with his daughter and a reflection on Greek mythology and literature, alongside a quote from James Clear about habits.