British Safety Council join the campaign to get staff moving......

Fit for Purpose — How to Take Care of Staff Introduction Encouraging physical exercise and healthy eating at work can have considerable benefits for both workers and the business itself. Healthy staff may have better concentration, be more mentally alert and have greater rapport with colleagues, as Lisa Purcell, the British Heart Foundation's Well at Work project manager, explains in this special feature. Wellness at work Workers aren't the only ones who can benefit from a healthier workplace. There are many benefits to employers who implement health programmes, including greater productivity, lower absenteeism and improved retention of staff. Employers who have implemented wellness, physical activity or healthy eating programmes have reported improved staff health, a positive impact on stress and back pain, fewer injuries in the workplace, improvements in morale and a positive corporate image. Creating a health programme The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has resources available to help make it easier to implement a programme in the workplace. It recommends appointing a co-ordinator to lead the programme, supported by a team selected from across the organisation. Regular team meetings to come up with new ideas and implement the programme are needed. This helps spread the workload and creates a feeling of ownership across the organisation. It is also very important to gain support from the management team from the outset, as they have the ability to make significant changes within an organisation and influence employees. Holding a launch event is an excellent way to promote new and existing initiatives at work. It's a great way for staff to meet people from across the organisation and give feedback and ideas for future activities. Offering freebies such as health checks can bring the event to life. Make sure your logo and co-ordinators are visible throughout the event, so people know who to turn to in the future. Physical activity programmes Physical activity is essential for good health and contributes to a person's overall well-being. Being physically inactive is a risk factor for developing coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These can cause disability and death. To benefit health, adults should achieve at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, five days a week. It isn't always easy to fit physical activity into a busy day, and many people spend long hours working and commuting. As people spend about half their waking day at work and many jobs include a lot of inactive time such as sitting at a computer, it makes sense to create opportunities for physical activity in this environment. A physical activity programme could include: Walking — encourage colleagues to walk more before, during and after work as a free and easy way to build physical activity into their daily routine. Cycling — suggest colleagues cycle as part of their commute to and from work. Those who cycle to work often arrive feeling more alert and find that they're better able to leave their work behind at the end of the day. Programmes that encourage cycling could offer discounts on bikes and accessories, and provide safe and easy places for employees to park their cycles. Activity classes — things like yoga and dance are very popular. They often last for an hour or less and can easily be organised to fit around the working day. They can be delivered on site or in a nearby facility. Workplace sports and games — these are sociable, fun and a great way for staff to meet. Remember it's the involvement, not the level at which people participate, which counts. Entering an event — involving a staff team in a charity event (such as the BHF London to Brighton bike ride) is a great way to encourage team work while getting active. Healthy eating programmes People can often consume a third of their daily calorie intake while at work, so it is important to support healthy eating habits by having food and information available which benefits health, weight and well-being. Employees who don't eat regular, well-balanced meals or drink enough water may get headaches and might have difficulty concentrating. Improving access to healthier food and drinks at work will help individuals to maintain a well-balanced diet. There are many ways to promote healthy eating in the workplace. These could include: Providing information about healthy eating in public areas. Workers are more likely to change their eating habits if they're aware of the benefits of a well-balanced diet and what options are available. Challenging people's perceptions of what is a healthy meal with creative cooking classes, workshops, food fairs and events. Ensuring that the facilities available make it easier for people to eat well and drink sensibly. Good canteens show employees that the management values healthy eating practices and cares about staff welfare. Offering discounts on healthy dishes in the staff cafeteria and ensuring vending machines are filled with healthy snacks. Directing staff to online tools. (The BHF website has both a Body Mass Index and Alcohol Calculator — see www.bhf.org.uk/bmi or www.bhf.org.uk/alcoholcalculator) Well-being at work Mental health is just as important as physical health. Mental well-being describes the way people think and feel about themselves and others, their confidence and their ability to control things in their lives. Promoting mental well-being can help people to cope with life's difficulties and have an increased ability to enjoy life. When staff are mentally healthy they are more likely to fulfil their potential and function well at work. They're also more likely to enjoy happy family and social relationships and make healthier choices about their lives. There are many ways that employers can help to maintain and improve mental well-being, which can in turn help employees to have an improved mood, get along with their colleagues and concentrate better. It is important to remember, however, that these cannot prevent or treat serious mental illness, which requires expert help. Coping with stress It can be difficult to know when stress turns into a mental health problem or when existing mental health problems are made worse by stress at work. It is estimated that, at any one time, one in four adults in the UK are experiencing some kind of mental health problem. There are a number of key areas that organisations can work on to prioritise mental well-being. These include: Job control — providing employees at all levels of the organisation with more control over the way they do their work, for example implementing flexible working arrangements can help to reduce stress levels. Managing job demands — workload, work patterns and the work environment can affect stress levels at work and need to be controlled. This could involve examining the amount and complexity of the work, setting realistic targets and controlling working hours. Establishing job roles — expectations need to be clear so employees understand their work and how it fits into the organisation's aims and objectives. Encouraging positive relationships at work — this can promote mental well-being, increase job satisfaction and improve productivity. Wellness programmes could contribute to this by looking at staff relationships between departments, addressing bullying and harassment and managing conflict between employees. In some cases, organisational change can affect mental well-being and staff require support and communication during times of change. The BHF provides guides, ideas and online tools to help you set up your own health at work programme. Visit www.bhf.org.uk/healthatwork for more information. Case study — Thomas Carroll Insurance Group Thomas Carroll Insurance Group (TCIG) in Caerphilly, South Wales, employs 100 staff. In 2003, the company decided to complement its existing health initiatives, which included an active sports and social club, with a 10-week programme of health education delivered by an external consultant. The course covered nutrition, stress, alcohol, smoking and exercise and was supported by free gym membership for all staff and 'fruit stations' throughout the offices. Employees were offered a free induction session at the local gym and free monthly Indian head massage sessions at work. Since then, the firm has gone further and had a gym built on its premises. This allows easy access and encourages those who would not normally feel comfortable in a commercial gym to work out. In addition, a consultant continues to give regular input to staff. Paul Gardner, sales and marketing director at TCIG, says: “It's an investment not a cost — that's the bottom line. “There are far too many businesses that are happy to put £20,000 into their budget for recruitment costs every year instead of putting £5,000 into a health and well-being programme, which would encourage people to want to stay with the company.“ Source - Last updated on 20/01/2010 British Safety Council website