Partner Article

Workplace healthcare must take priority

By Bernadette Stainsby, Head of HR for the Vela Group, which embraces Housing Hartlepool and Tristar Homes

Helping people deal with health issues and pressures in their lives is one of the best investments an employer can make.

Workers are an organisation’s biggest asset so it makes sense all round to make sure that the welfare of staff is one of a business’s core values. .

Many companies spend considerable time and effort to ensure they recruit the right calibre of people.

However, it is equally important to put incentives in place to make them want to stay with the company.

Staff retention goes beyond attractive monetary compensations and other material benefits.

In addition the organisation has the potential to make a crucial contribution to help people improve their wellbeing and fitness.

Most adults spend a large proportion of their waking hours at work making it a prime venue for promoting healthy habits.

Implementing a health awareness/promotion programme is one way of improving staff morale and retention.

As well as having an impact on sickness levels, health awareness programmes benefit employees’ general welfare and quality of life.

Increasing employee knowledge is essential to bring about lifestyle changes.

Encouraging and supporting employees to adopt better eating habits, to take more exercise, to tackle stress, and give up smoking helps their quality of life remain high both at home and work.

The other benefits of introducing a wellbeing policy include:

• · Enhanced recruitment and retention of employees
• · Decreased rates of illness and injuries
• · Reduced employee absenteeism
• · Improved employee relations and morale
• · Increased productivity

A healthy and happy workforce is essential to the continued growth and success of an organisation.

Housing Hartlepool and Tristar Homes have both been recognised for their approach to a healthy workforce and have been recognised with ‘Better Health at Work Awards’.

We have undoubtedly seen benefits with staff embracing the health awareness initiatives we have introduced.

These have included Pay Day Pamper Day sessions, weight management classes, stress and wellbeing advice, embracing work-life balance policies including flexible working hours, offering staff flu vaccines and encouraging physical exercise.

We would encourage other organisations adopt such initiatives. Just a few simple steps towards improving the health of employees can result in benefits to business, the economy of the region and the quality of life of those who live in the North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .