Health Charter paying dividends for firms
4th April 2011
Companies in Liverpool are working towards helping their staff be more healthy as part of an initiative, launched by Liverpool PCT and Health@Work.
The “Workplace Wellbeing Charter,” launched last year, is the health equivalent of Investors in People, and is starting to have a really positive impact on working conditions in Liverpool.
In the last month the first businesses have been awarded the Workplace Wellbeing Charter in recognition of their work to create a healthy workplace.
Frances Molloy, Chief Executive of Health@Work says: “Liverpool businesses are the first in the country to receive recognition and it’s great that as a city we are leading the way in creating healthy workplaces. Since the first Workplace Wellbeing Charter awards we’ve had a lot of interest from other firms wanting to work towards gaining recognition. Companies are beginning to recognise how creating a healthy workplace can improve staff motivation, cut sickness absence, improve productivity and directly affect the bottom line.”
Muirhead Dental Practice, Rotunda and two Home Office departments within Liverpool are some of the first businesses to achieve the Workplace Wellbeing Charter.
Rotunda has been awarded the honour for a number of initiatives including workshops for staff and pupils - one of which is “Laughter Yoga”, a class that promotes the release of endorphins.
Maxine Ennis, Chief Executive at Rotunda says: “The laughter class is a recent addition to the programming and it’s really popular. It’s not only great fun; it’s also an excellent way to help promote mental well being.”
Rotunda’s other healthy activities include organised group walks over lunch times, healthy menus in their café, a ‘free fruit day’ once a week and Qi Gong stress busting classes each morning before the working day starts.
Rotunda’s confidence is now spreading beyond the walls of their own site, and they are currently looking to use their ideas and facilities to help other organisations. They are planning to put together stress busting and team building workshops for other companies to attend.
Maxine Ennis says: “The Workplace Wellbeing Charter is a wonderful and fantastic idea, and it is giving us the confidence to use our skills and facilities to offer specially tailored interactive workshops to other organisations in Liverpool, educating them about health and well being, and we will do them here at Rotunda or at their own sites.”
Muirhead Dental Practice was presented with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter last month. Jessie Chow, Practice Manager says the certification has encouraged the practice to continue improving our health procedures. “We are continuing with workshops like ‘How to Handle Stress at Work’ as well as a variety of healthy eating workshops. They keep growing in popularity and I have noticed that the atmosphere within the practice has uplifted, which is brilliant.”
As part of their efforts to make the workplace healthier the practice has fitted a new shower, and since the Workplace Wellbeing Charter was awarded they have seen a rise in staff using the shower after exercise before they start work and during lunch times.
The Workplace Wellbeing Charter has also encouraged Muirhead Dental Practice to enhance team building events, which they say reward staff and have built team morale.
“We are currently planning a summer gathering themed around de-stress and team building. All of these new initiatives started as a result of the Workplace Wellbeing Charter which has been great at building morale and improving communication between staff,” says Jessie.
Frances Molloy from Health@Work says: “The businesses which have worked towards the Workplace Wellbeing Charter are really starting to see tangible benefits to the business and this is reflected by studies done nationally. There is clear evidence that shows a direct link between employee health and wellbeing and financial benefits for the organisations. Some national organisations implementing their own wellbeing initiatives have recorded a 95% improvement in sickness absence rates and have reduced staff turnover by 25%.”
Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT adds: “Getting involved in the Workplace Wellbeing Charter is a way for employers and organisations to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of the people who work for them. We believe it not only improves the wellbeing of individuals, but it also creates benefits that will impact on the overall success of an organisation.”
For free advice and support on creating a healthier workplace and for more information on the Workplace Wellbeing Charter contact Health@Work on 0151 236 6608 or e-mail info@healthatworkcentre.org.uk
