Health, Work and Wellbeing
Work matters – it can help to improve your health, reduce health inequalities and offer improved opportunities. Due to changing demographics, having more people in work is increasingly important for communities and our economy. The health and well-being of working age people is therefore of fundamental importance to our future and we are committed to bringing about a real and sustained improvement in this area. The Health, Work and Wellbeing site provides more details of the strategy in place to address this, as well as useful resources including videos, case studies, and discussion forums.
For more infromation visit: Health, Work, and Welbeing
The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives
Investors in People UK advise that organisations in Scotland should also consider the good work of the Scottish Centre for Healthy Wokring Lives. Working in partnership with employers and key partners, the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives ensure they have the right conditions and support in Scotland to help build a healthy and productive workforce. The centre is part of NHS Health Scotland (Scotland’s national health improvement agency). The Centre’s services include:
- Telephone advice line (0800 019 2211) offering free and confidential expert advice on workplace health (health promotion, health & safety, occupational health) to individuals and employers in all sizes of workplaces.
- Free and confidential workplace assessment visits to help companies understand their occupational health and safety duties and provide practical and workable solutions for small firms (under 250 employees).
- Healthy Working Lives Award Programme covering: health promotion, occupational health and safety, vocational rehabilitation, employability and mental health and well-being. The award programme is available to workplaces.
For more information visit: Healthy Working Lives
Welsh Assembly Government’s Corporate Health Standard
Investors in People UK advises that organisations in Wales should also consider working with the Welsh Assembly’s Corporate Health Standard – particularly if they are not able to participate in one of Investors in People’s free Health and Wellbeing at Work pilots. The Corporate Health Standard is the Welsh Assembly Government's quality mark for workplace health promotion in Wales. It is presented in Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum categories to public and private sector-organisations implementing practices to promote the health and wellbeing of their employees.
Like other workplace quality initiatives, it is a progressive programme in which organisations are reassessed every three years. The work to achieve the Corporate Health Standard is consistent with the Business Excellence Model, which drives quality and organisational development in many organisations.
For more information visit: The Corporate Health Standard
Royal Institute of Public Health – Understanding Health Improvement Qualification (Level 2 Award)
This qualification - which is supported by the Department of Health - benefits employers of all types and sizes in both the private and public sector in supporting a healthy workforce and/or assisting front-line customer-facing staff perform better in any general ‘health promotion’ role. This one-day training course and 45 minute multiple choice assessment (exam) gives staff a firm foundation in understanding health improvement, empowers them to make healthier lifestyle choices, and equips them with basic health advice and methods of support, which they can then use to inform and assist colleagues and/or customers.
For more infromaiton visit: Royal Institute of Public Health Level 2 Award
Mindful Employer
The Mindful Employer initiative provides easy access to information and support for employers in recruiting and retaining of staff with mental health problems and aims to make it healthier to talk about mental health in the workplace. It offers support and information which can be adapted and adopted by employers to suit individual workplace cultures, practices and business needs.
Mindful Employer is free and voluntary and, in contrast with many practices in modern workplaces, is not a target to achieve nor a policy to implement. This unique and innovative approach has attracted contact and commitment from small, medium and large employers across the public, private and voluntary sectors and partnership interest from a wide range of organisations across the UK.
For more information visit: www.mindfulemployer.net
British Heart Foundation “Think Fit”
The Think Fit Programme led by the British Heart Foundation demonstrates how making effective changes around the workplace, increasing breaks, more physical activity and analysing dietary characteristics can make lasting improvements to people’s health and performance. The website below includes many useful ideas for employers:
For more informaiton visit: British Heart Foundation Think Fit
Sport England
Sport England works hard to make England more active. They
encourage people to get involved with sport and physical activity. Operating around the UK, Sport England are involved in a number of new initiatives focusing on improving the health and wellbeing in the workplace.
- Sport England London "Activate Your Workplace"
Sport England London is presently piloting a one year training and development programme that helps workplaces to design, deliver and evaluate health interventions to promote health and wellbeing. The scheme asks organisations to commit £3500 funding and resources in return for support including travel planning, personal fitness, training workshops, assistance for an employee health audit. The pilot of this initiative will be evaluated in summer 2008 with the hope to expand the initiative around the UK.
For more informaiton visit: Sport England "Activate Your Workplace" Pilot
Sport England East Midlands
Employers in the East Midlands may benefit from Sport England’s work that improves workforce health and productivity. Supported by the East Midlands Regional Investment in Health Policy, the project aims to; encourage more participation in sport, support sports initiatives, personal development and training, and provide case studies regarding physical interventions
For more information visit: Sport England East Midlands
The National Business Award (NBA)
The annual National Business Awards recognises the importance of health and work. The award system for health, work and well-being aims to identify and recognise companies for good practice in improving employees’ health and well-being. Any company within the UK, whether public or private, can enter the award - regardless of size or industry. Whilst the deadline for 2007 submittals has just passed, organisations will be encouraged to submit nominatins again in early summer 2008.
For more information visit: The National Business Awards
HSE Work-Related Stress
Whilst pressure in the wokplace keeps up well motivated, an increasing number of employees in recent years have succumbed to excessive levels of stress. Whilst there are various reasons for this, stress costs UK employers huge amounts of money due to ill health. The Health and Safety Executive have put together materials, good practice, and advise to help employers and employees how to successfullly address stress at work.
For more information visit: HSE Work-Related Stress
HSE Better Backs Campaign
With 80% of the employees experiencing back pain at some point during their working, the Health and Safety Executive's Better Backs Campaign provides preventative tips and posters for employers to promote around the workplace.
For more informaiton visit: Better Backs Campaign
Workplace Health Connect
This government funded service providing confidential, practical and free advice to small businesses on workplace health and safety, management of sickness absence and return to work issues. By calling the Adviceline small businesses can; understand their health and safety responsibilities, ensure their business is a safe place to work, put things right, and provide access to quality health and safety advice quickly
For more information visit: Workplace Health Connect
ACAS Information and Consultation Health Check
ACAS has produced a new tool that can help organisations to remain productive and develop to meet a challenging market. The tool focuses on the benefits gained from sharing information amongst employees and valuing their contributions. With employers legally obliged to consult with employees or employee representatives on everyday issues such as health and safety and occupational pensions, it is important that all organisations are able to effectively address this issue and the tool includes useful consultative tips.For more information visit: ACAS Information and Consultation Health Check