Wellness in the Workplace
This morning at Rotary (14 October) Ailsa Allen spoke to us about the importance of businesses keeping an eye on the health of their workforce. She indicated that the national figures regarding unhealthy behaviours included smoking (22%); accessing inadequate amounts of fruit and vegetables (49%); not being sufficiently active (70%); overweight/obesity issues (60%); overindulgence in alcohol (24%) and psychological distress at (40%). Ailsa spoke about the benefits of workplaces focusing on wellness. These included productivity gains, reduced number of sick days; and increased staff morale.
The programme she is involved in will come into a business and take measurements of staff and then work with the business to develop a programme which they will review after an agreed time. Change takes times so it is important to take a long term view; and to provide the one on one support that will keep people motivated.
The World Health Organisation recognises workplace as a priority setting for promoting health and wellbeing. Health is the largest budge expense for many countries - so it is critical to controlling health care demands and costs.
If you would like Ailsa to work with your company please contact her on striveforhealth@bigpond.com