H E A LT H A N D WELLBEING S T R AT E G Y
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 What is this document about?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Why is health and wellbeing in the workplace important?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Where are we now?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Action plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
INTRODUCTION Council’s employees are our most utilised and valuable asset. To achieve our strategic goals, we need physically, emotionally and mentally well employees. Here at Council we are committed to supporting and encouraging our employees to lead healthy and active lives. Assisting employees with their lifestyle choices through education, assistance and support will also have a positive impact on the wider community through dissemination of knowledge and role-modelling of healthier lifestyle behaviours. This positive impact will contribute to the achievement of the community’s goal outlined in Ruby and Oliver, our Community Strategic Plan. “We have an active and healthy community”.
WHAT IS THIS DOCUMENT ABOUT? Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy sets out how Council intends to promote, educate and encourage the health and wellbeing of our employees over the next five (5) years. The aim is to enhance and proactively support employees’ health and wellbeing, to enable a healthier, happier and more productive workforce.
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Why is HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN THE WORKPLACE IMPORTANT? Almost 2 in 3 Australians are overweight or obese
1 in 5
employees will experience a mental health condition
Over 50%
Employees who sit down for more than 11 hours a day are 40% more likely to die early than those who sit for less than four hours
of the adult population in Australia participate in insufficient physical activity
Sedentary activity averages 39 hrs per week
In 2010, around 1/3 of working-age Australians were reported to have at least one chronic disease
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Obesity has overtaken smoking in the leading risk factors for ill-health and premature death in Australia
96%
had multiple risk factors
&
72%
had at least one risk factor
Healthy workers are almost three times more productive than unhealthy workers
Presenteeism costs Australian businesses
$34 billion
Compared to $6 billion for absenteeism
per year $6B
Unhealthy workers take nine times more sick days average 18 days/year vs 2 sick days
15% more people living in outer regional and remote areas are overweight or obese than people living in major cities
$5.81 is saved for every $1.00 Organisations with health and wellbeing programs report a 50% reduction in injury rates and claims
INVESTED IN EMPLOYEE WELLBEING
Lifestyle-related diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices
Sources: Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, NSW Government – Get Healthy at Work, NSW Business Chamber and Centre for Corporate Health.
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WHERE ARE WE NOW? Council has provided various health and wellbeing initiatives over a number of years. A workshop was conducted to enable consultation with a broad selection of employees. Their opinions and ideas were gathered through the various activities undertaken, and it was agreed that we need a consistent approach to health and wellbeing in Council. This strategy aims to make health and wellbeing a focus for our employees, and allows regular information to be provided.
LEAVE TAKINGS HOURS
25,000
Carer’s Leave Sick Leave
20,000 15,000 10,000 5000 0
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
CLAIMS AND INCIDENTS BY TYPE 30 25
Sprain/Strain Open Wound/ Foreign Body Mental Contusion/Crush
20 15 10 5 0
6
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
CLAIM COST BY TYPE COST
$350,000
Sprain/Strain Open Wound/ Foreign Body Mental Contusion/Crush
$300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 0
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
CLAIMS BY LOCATION 15
Trunk Upper Limbs Lower Limbs Head Non-physical locations
12 9 6 3 0
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
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EAP ACCESS NO. OF SESSIONS
FLU VACCINATIONS Work Related Personal
200 150
250 200
100 150
50 0
100 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015
2012
2013
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIPS 50 40
Gym Swim
30 20 10 0
8
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
2014
2015
WHAT ARE WE STRIVING TO ACHIEVE? ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ
Increased employee health knowledge Reduction in employee health risks Physically fit workers for physically demanding roles Increased productivity Decreased absenteeism and presenteeism Reduced impact on our Workers Compensation Premium Positive corporate culture changes with heightened morale and employee satisfaction
HOW WILL WE KNOW IF IT’S WORKED? Comparative data will be provided and communicated regularly to demonstrate progress in our key areas. Measurable targets include: ZZ
ZZ ZZ ZZ
Employees participating in health and wellbeing initiatives/ events/activities, with increased participation over time Reduction in sick leave taken Reduction in strain/sprain workers compensation claims Increased uptake of gym/swim memberships
WHAT WILL WE DO TO GET THERE? Consultation with our employees indicated they would like to see many of our previous initiatives continue or re-commence, with some alternative approaches suggested to better engage our workforce. A detailed action plan has been developed to broaden our focus and plan for health and wellbeing at Council.
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ACTION PLAN A healthy employee contributes to the development of a healthy environment, and therefore a healthy organisation. As a result, the following action plan is focused on three key areas:
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FUEL YOU
MOVE YOU
SUPPORT YOU
Fuelling your body with what it needs to function well
Getting you moving regularly to combat the effects of a sedentary lifestyle
Doing all we can to encourage physical, emotional and mental wellness
FUEL YOU OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
Encourage healthier eating knowledge and choices
Implement the Get Healthy At Work Program
ü ü ü ü
Provide healthier food options for internally organised training, seminars, workshops etc
ü ü ü ü ü
Arrange weight loss program, with Council to pay upfront and allow GST free component to be re-paid to Council through payroll deduction
ü ü ü ü ü
Provide Mental Health Awareness Training
ü ü ü ü ü
Promote mental health initiatives occurring within and external to Council
ü ü ü ü ü
Increase mental health awareness (including contributing factors)
15/16 16/17 17/18 19/20 20/21
Provide information on getting both quality, and ideal quantity of sleep
ü ü ü ü ü
Promote the use of the MySpace room at the Civic Centre for meditation, quiet time and private conversations.
ü ü ü ü ü
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MOVE YOU OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
15/16 16/17 17/18 19/20 20/21
Encourage regular exercise
Pay employee’s gym memberships upfront and allow GST free component to be re-paid to Council through payroll deduction
ü ü ü ü ü
Allow Oasis swim memberships to be salary sacrificed
ü ü ü ü ü
Encourage active transport as an option to incorporate exercise into daily activities, or increase daily exercise
ü ü ü ü ü
Investigate Warm Up for Work programs or promotional material for physical workers
ü
Implement approved program or utilise sourced promotional material to encourage workers in physical roles to warm up for work
ü ü ü ü
Promote regular movement throughout the day for static workers
ü ü ü ü ü
Promote participation in Ride 2 Work and Walk to Work day activities
ü ü ü ü ü
Investigate options for sit to stand workstations for office based workers
ü ü ü
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SUPPORT YOU
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OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
15/16 16/17 17/18 19/20 20/21
Develop and/or promote policies/ procedures that support and encourage health and wellbeing
Promote the Local Government (State) Award 2014 Health and Wellbeing Leave option and guidelines around use of this leave
ü ü ü ü ü
Promote Council’s Working from Home Procedure as an option (where practicable) for flexibility and work/life balance
ü ü ü ü ü
Investigate programs or promotional material to encourage workers to quit smoking
ü
Implement approved program or utilise sourced promotional material to encourage workers to quit smoking
ü ü ü ü
SUPPORT YOU OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
15/16 16/17 17/18 19/20 20/21
Raise awareness of health and wellbeing generally, as well as Council’s health and wellbeing program
Re-brand Council’s Health and Wellbeing Program and develop promotional material for internal use
ü
Update Council’s Health and Wellbeing intranet page/s to reflect re-branding and ensure up to date and relevant information including links to external websites
ü ü ü ü ü
Create a closed social media group for employees to join for relevant and useful information to be disseminated
ü
Investigate additional low cost technology options to increase uptake and engagement
ü
Create quarterly pop-up health stands in appropriate locations promoting relevant key theme
ü ü ü ü ü
Engage health/exercise professionals to provide short information sessions
ü ü ü ü ü
Ensure health and wellbeing activities are included in Council’s Annual Safety Week
ü ü ü ü ü
Provide Summer Safety training including skin cancer prevention information and encouraging annual skin checks
ü ü ü ü ü 15
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SUPPORT YOU OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
Promote corporate initiatives, activities, programs and events for all employees
Provide access to Council’s Employee Assistance Program
ü ü ü ü ü
Source and promote corporate health insurance rates
ü ü ü ü ü
Provide annual flu vaccinations
ü ü ü ü ü
Provide suitable end user facilities for active transport and lunch time activities
ü ü ü ü ü
Conduct Ergonomic Assessments and educate employees on ergonomic principles
ü ü ü ü ü
Coordinate Council’s employee Relay for Life team
15/16 16/17 17/18 19/20 20/21
ü ü ü ü
Promote participation in Council’s annual Local Government Parkes Touch Football Trip
ü ü ü ü ü
Investigate opportunities to run an Intra-Council Games event encouraging participation from all employees through competing, volunteering, or supporting
ü
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19
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