Nationwide Platforms champions raising awareness this World Hearing Day
This World Hearing Day (the 3rd of March), a senior HR leader is encouraging those with hearing conditions to speak more openly about their experiences.
Nationwide Platforms Head of HR Operations Robyn Molyneux understands the importance of that message first-hand, having managed tinnitus for over four years.
World Hearing Day is an annual awareness day organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Its intention is to promote ear care and inform the public about ear health and safety measures that can both prevent and treat hearing loss.
Hearing conditions are far more common than many people may realise. According to statistics presented by the RNID* (Royal National Institute of the Deaf), 1 in 3 adults in the UK suffer from hearing loss, deafness or tinnitus, with 1 in 7 having tinnitus specifically** and over 7 million people suffering from it across the UK.
Robyn, 38, has worked for the powered access hire company for four and a half years, and until recently hadn’t publicly announced that she has suffered from Tinnitus for over four years. “I made a post on LinkedIn about Tinnitus to share my story and raise awareness and was surprised at the reaction it received,” she said. “Suddenly, I was receiving messages from people whom I had known for years, but who hadn’t realised that I’d been dealing with a hearing difficulty for so long. I also received a lot of messages from people who also have the same condition, which put into perspective how common hearing conditions can be, and how little they’re talked about.”
Robyn added, “In my personal experience, the first healthcare professional I spoke to about it was unhelpful, saying I should come back when the symptoms had worsened. I didn’t let that stop me from seeking the help I needed, and through my own research on the condition, and sharing my symptoms, I’ve been able to develop coping mechanisms that help me in my everyday life.”
“I would recommend anyone that is suffering from hearing conditions to not be disheartened. One thing I’ve learned from my experience is that by sharing with others, you encourage them to share their own experiences. You never know what advice and information you might receive.”
She continued: “I’m lucky to work for a company like Nationwide Platforms that takes ear protection and ear health seriously; ear defenders are always available whenever I visit a depot or a busy site.
“I belong to a very understanding team that are aware of my tinnitus, and although I manage my symptoms independently, I know if there’s ever anything I need, they’ll support me all the way. If I hadn’t allowed myself to be vulnerable and inform my colleagues of my condition, they wouldn’t have been able to help me, as it’s not something that’s visible or obvious. That’s why it’s so important to share your story.”
Graham Boyle, Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Director at Nationwide Platforms said “Robyn’s story shows just how vital awareness days such as World Hearing Day can be. We pride ourselves on ensuring that the welfare of our staff is always top priority and that safety equipment and advice are always readily available, whether in an office or depot setting. We always encourage our employees to share with us in the strictest confidence any vulnerabilities to ensure we can make any necessary reasonable adjustments to enable our people to go about their work without having to worry about their condition.”
You can learn more about World Hearing Day on the World Heal Organisation website here: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2026.