If one of No Shock's team members is having a rough day, instead of pushing through with the traditional 'she'll be right' attitude, they’re encouraged to knock off early (if it’s not an emergency!) and spend time with their family and kids. This might sound simple, but in the traditionally masculine world of trades, it represents a significant shift in workplace culture.

For Shamus and Matt (co-owners of No Shock Electrical), creating this kind of supportive environment didn't happen by accident. They're all too aware of the concerning mental health statistics in the trades industry, where men often find it difficult to speak up about their struggles. "Mental health and tradies - it's pretty terrible. Guys don't talk to each other, guys don't open up," they explain.

What makes No Shock's approach unique isn't just its open-door policy – it’s a holistic approach to well-being. Their Monday morning ‘toolbox’ meetings aren't just about allocating jobs. You'll hear laughter, see genuine camaraderie, and witness team members supporting each other through challenges. It's a far cry from the stereotype of the stoic, silent tradie.

Team members share their highs and lows from the previous week, creating a space for openly discussing challenges. It's like a pressure release valve, preventing minor issues from becoming major problems.

The modern tradie's toolkit

Just as a good tradesperson needs the right tools for the job, No Shock equips their team with the right mental health tools. This includes encouraging regular exercise, ensuring proper sleep, and maintaining good communication with their partners and family at home. They've even embraced the practice of mindfulness – being aware of your surroundings and your thoughts and finding gratitude in every situation.

It's not exactly what you'd expect from your typical electrical company!

The future of trades

The industry is slowly changing, with organisations like MATES in Construction doing fantastic work to support tradies' mental health. As Shamus notes, "It is starting to open up the building sites. You can actually see a change. It's very slow because trades are slow on it, but we're getting there."

No Shock is also enthusiastically embracing diversity in the workplace, celebrating the increasing number of women entering the trade. They think that more women in the workplace is a good thing, helping to break down old stereotypes and create more inclusive workplaces.

Values-driven business

Shamus and Matt’s approach to their team also extends to their business relationships. They have seen difficult and demanding clients adversely impacting their business and workforce, and they have consciously chosen to part ways with the client. For them, it’s not ‘business at any cost’ and they stay true to their philosophy of values-drive business – while not taking their eye off the bottom line if course!

Professional development and mentoring are deeply embedded in their company values. "The history of No Shock is we've had a lot of good apprentices come through and we've trained out some really good sparkies," Shamus notes proudly. This commitment extends beyond immediate business needs to industry development.

The bottom line

Creating a mentally healthy workplace isn't just about being nice to your team – it's also about building a more successful business. No Shock's experience shows that when people feel supported and valued, productivity actually increases. Their approach proves that you can maintain high professional standards while prioritising mental wellbeing.

Need to create a healthier workplace culture? Want to support your team's mental wellbeing? Don't wait for a crisis to make changes.

Remember, just as we regularly check our electrical systems for safety, we need to check in on our mental health too. It's time to rewire our thinking about mental health in the trades industry.

Matt and Shamus guested on a podcast called Boxers and Briefs – here’s a little of what they talked about:

No Shock Electrical started 14 years ago after a conversation in a pub sparked the idea of breaking away from traditional employment to forge our own path. We built the company up to 14 employees at our peak, but faced significant challenges managing productivity and efficiency, leading to consistent monthly losses – despite having plenty of work. Through this journey, we made the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our team down to four of us, which proved to be a turning point for our business. No Shock has again picked up during a very challenging climate, and we now have eight team members in total.

As leaders in the trades industry, we're passionate about changing the traditionally tough culture and promoting better mental health practices through exercise, mindfulness, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We're proud of our track record in developing quality apprentices into skilled electricians, and we're excited about our future plans to expand into new divisions including data and MATV services. Our story isn't just about business growth – it's about building a company culture that supports both professional success and personal wellbeing in the trades industry.

To listen and or watch Matt and Shamus talk about their business values, go to the Boxers and Briefs podcast here.