Guardian Group have a well documented Healthy Workplaces Programme (Workplace Wellness Programme) that has been in place for 1-2 years. They have an allocated budget for a Healthy Workplaces Programme and an established Wellness Committee.The Guardian Group believe that although in its early stages, their Healthy Workplaces Programme has been effective in improving employee health and wellbeing, there have been reports of healthy behavioural changes and the language and conversations are now around wellness.Workplace Vision/Mission
Transforming lives by encouraging the adoption of habits and behaviours that foster better health and an improved quality of life.
Successes
The most successful and impactful element of their WWP is their ‘MY STORY’ features. These are staff accounts of success, victories and challenges in their wellness journey. These stories make it real for the reader, many can relate, many are motivated and many commit to make their own transformation. This news feature has become an important communications driver that leads to more staff involvement and participation.
Challenges
During the first year, they invested in an on-line solution (portal) that allowed everyone to track their individual progress on for e.g. weekly exercise and nutrition goals, in addition to logging their participation in campaigns. Initially, this initiative took root, but quickly lost steam and interest in logging the activities. It appears to be a cultural nuance, where individuals are inclined to participate and be engaged but some how lack the discipline to record progress.
Corporate Community Responsibility
The Guardian signature event – SHINE in its first year raised US$30K and 2nd year raised US$66K (all for children’s charity). The event promotes fitness in a family fun atmosphere. It brought 3,000 registered participants in the first year and over 5,000 in the second year. Staff volunteerism activities are always high on their agenda, and one of the largest such activity was under an initiative entitled “I SEE U” – staff adopted a community (rural area) and brought relief to eight families including support for the general community. Work and support for this community was done for two consecutive years. These types of activities boost staff moral and a renewed enlightenment and awareness for those less fortunate. It also presents a huge opportunity to give of self in service of others – with the benefits of emotional well-being to the givers.
Healthy Workplace Programme – 16 key elements:
1 | Occupational Safety and Health There is an established and enforced Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy Employers and employees are regularly made aware of the OSH Policy |
2 | Tobacco Use Cessation There is an established and enforced policy making company buildings and parking lots tobacco/smoke-free Information and resources on the harmful effects of smoking are visible and readily available in the workplace The sale and advertisement of tobacco products is prohibited on worksite premises |
3 | Healthy eating Information and resources on healthy diets (including the adverse effects of unhealthy diets such as those high in sugar, salt, cholesterol, saturated and trans fat; and the importance of reducing portion sizes) are visible and readily available in the workplace There is easy to access safe drinking water (e.g. water coolers) Workers have access to an on-site registered dietician The sale of unhealthy foods by itinerant vendors in and around the workplace is prohibited |
4 | Breastfeeding Support There is an established and enforced policy to accommodate the needs of breastfeeding mothers (maternity care practices such as the provision of comfortable, private spaces for employees to nurse or pump, and flexible breaks) The company offers a private place that is comfortable, clean and equipped with a small refrigerator to allow mothers to express and store their milk during work hours |
5 | Physical Activity Enhancement Information and resources on physical activity are visible and readily available in the workplace There are on-site fitness instructor led exercise classes There are organised employee competitions, sporting events, sports teams and outdoor walking trails The company offers memberships or discounts at local health clubs or recreation centers |
6 | Mental Health and Stress Management The company has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP is a professional counselling service for employees that may be experiencing emotional distress from personal or work-related problems Information and resources on mental health, resiliency and stress management are visible and readily available in the workplace Employees are recognised for achievements in the workplace (e.g. rewards, certificates, positive feedback via meeting announcements) There is monitoring of employee satisfaction (e.g. staff surveys) There are regular employee communication opportunities (e.g. team meetings, one-to-one meetings) There are opportunities for personal and professional development There are moral boosting activities (e.g. employee lunches, birthday celebrations, sports teams) |
7 | Alcohol Reduction Alcohol consumption is restricted or banned at staff events both during and outside of working hours |
8 | Disability in the Workplace Facilities (e.g. ramps, suitably equipped washrooms etc.) are in place at your workplace for ease of use by those with disabilities |
9 | Return to Work for People Living with NCDs No policy in place |
10 | Work-life Balance On-site childcare assistance Work from home/ remote worksite location Reduced or flexible hours |
11 | Screening and Treatment for NCDs There is biometric screening – clinical data on body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and cholesterol level There is cancer screening There is a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA): a self-administered questionnaire to identify modifiable health risk such as smoking behaviour, physical inactivity, poor diet, and high stress levels Workers have access to group health plans |
12 | NCD prevention Information, Education and Resources Information and resources about diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, and mental health are visible and readily available in the workplace Health awareness days (e.g. World Health Day; Caribbean Wellness Day) are celebrated or employee health fairs are hosted |
13 | Healthy Living rewards or incentives Workers are provided with incentives to adopt healthy behaviours (e.g. British Petroleum health regime initiative – every million steps rewarded 250 points and when 1K points accumulated per annum rewarded with a reduction in insurance premiums for the following year) |
14 | Multisectoral Partnerships None |
15 | Monitoring and Evaluation There is a baseline and follow-up worker health assessment There is an assessment of worker use/participation in the healthy workplace initiative/workplace wellness programme There is an assessment of worker satisfaction with the healthy workplace initiative/workplace wellness programme |
16 | Community Volunteerism The company has a formal relationship with local community groups (local CSOs or NGOs) or entities (ie. schools, elderly homes, hospitals etc.) which provides an opportunity for workers to volunteer outside of working hours The company has a formal relationship with local community groups (local CSOs or NGOs) or entities (ie. schools, elderly homes, hospitals etc.) which provides an opportunity for workers to volunteer during working hours |
See below some images from the Guardian Group’s healthy workplace activities.
Find out more about the Guardian Group here.