Workplace health - the offer

from BMBC
Julia Sykes Workplace Health
Officer BMBC
 Why workplace health?
‘The most valuable asset of a business is, and will always be, the
dedicated staff that devote themselves to delivering the work of
the organisation. Healthy and fit staff are essential to ensuring
a company remains efficient and profitable.
None of us doubt that good staff management practices ensure
that our workforce delivers our aims, but many of us forget that
unless we help them manage their health, fitness and
wellbeing many of our workers can and will fall ill.’

Professor Dame Carol Black, Expert Adviser on Health and Work to

the Department for Health
 Why should employers take action
to improve employee health?
• Growing body of evidence supporting the business
case for investing in workplace health
• Poor employee health costs employers huge
amounts of money (In UK 131million days lost to sickness absence in
2013 with employers and employees bearing the burden of sickness absence costs)

• Benefits for both employer and employee (for every £1

invested £4.17 back)

• Population changes/rise in chronic disease

• Employers are key players to deliver the health
message – they have a captive audience
 Why should employers take action

• ‘For many employees the costs of ill

health, which given the ageing population
and the increase in chronic disease, will
only grow in the absence of intervention, is
enough to justify a comprehensive
wellness scheme’

Price, Waterhouse Cooper , Building the Case for Wellness 2008

Our offer to • Free workplace visit
businesses • Assess your current situation
and help you prioritise key
areas
• Tips and ideas on small
changes
• Signposting to local services
and wider lifestyle services
• Newsletters/health
campaigns
• Accreditation to the National
Charter
 Business engagement
• Local Scheme launched January 2014
• 70 different businesses had at least one visit
• Majority interested in putting measures in
place
• 11 assessed and qualified for our local good
practice award (3 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze)
• Workplace health budget supported in 2014 a
series of free mental health training courses
and a business support grant.
 Why if the business case has
been made in such a compelling
way are a large number of
businesses not investing in
health and wellbeing?
 Barriers
• Failure to make the business case- difficulties arise as
some benefits are hard to measure. Senior managers do not
understand benefits to gain ‘buy in’ and don’t always see the
link between health and productivity.
• Employee engagement – interventions take place with little
or no interest.
• Resources- budgetary constraints are hurdles, issues with
staff resources
• Culture- employees criticised for taking part, feel its time
wasted and /or hidden agenda
 Workplace Wellbeing Charter
National Award for England
• Simple set of standards/criteria that give a clear
structure to follow suitable for all businesses
• Addresses the factors that makes a difference to
an individuals health and wellbeing in the
workplace
• Allows you to find out what you are doing well and
where improvements can be made
• Branding – gives national recognition enhances
reputation and image
• Robust evidenced based – now recognised as the
business standard for health and wellbeing across
England – and its free to become accredited!!
Congratulations
to Barnsley
Hospice
 National charter benefits
• Saves you money – business benefits (reduced
sickness absence, improved productivity,
increased retention, improved morale)
• Enhances your reputation as a caring employer
• Gives you the edge when tendering for work
• Ensures legal compliance with health and safety
and human resource policies
 The Charter standards
• Leadership
• Absence management*
• Health and safety*
• Mental health
• Smoking and tobacco*
• Physical activity
• Healthy eating
• Alcohol and substance
misuse
Tip -start with easy sections*
• Much good practice is
taking place already
many businesses may
already be meeting many
of the criteria.
• The standards may
appear daunting at the
outset but when you look
at what they say in many
cases this is already
taking place
The Charter allows progression
• 3 levels - commitment,
achievement and Delivered by Barnsley MBC

excellence
Has been assessed by Barnsley Council and found to meet the

• To qualify for the award NATIONAL STANDARDS of the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, levels
detailed below.

Leadership

need minimum of Absence Management

Health and Safety
Mental Health

commitment in each of Smoking and Tobacco

Physical Activity

the 8 subjects Healthy Eating

Alcohol and Substance Misuse

• Allows recognition for Certificate of

ACCREDITATION
strengths Registration No.
This certificate remains the property of Barnsley MBC
and must be surrendered on demand. For an up-to-date Effective Date Expiry

• Last for 2 years

list of accredited organisations visit:
www.wellbeingcharter.org.uk Date
 The process
• Introductory meeting
• Completion of the self assessment standards
• Help with identifying evidence requirements
and the types of evidence for each standard
• Assistance with developing action plans to
plug any gaps
• Pre assessment visit
• Formal assessment
Achievement of the national award
• Post assessment
report
• Issue of certificate
• Listing on the national
website
• Release of branding
• Arrange an introductory
meeting email
juliasykes@barnsley.gov.
uk or telephone 01226
772608
• Take a look at the self
assessment standards
(hard copy available on
Workplace health
information stand)
 Contacts
Local Authority Contact
Barnsley Julia Sykes 01226 772608
Juliasykes@barnsley.gov.uk
Rotherham Andy Turner 01709 255837
Andrew.turner@rotherham.gov.uk

Colin Ellis 01709 255838

Colin.ellis@rotherham.gov.uk

Doncaster Kirsty Thorley 01302 734570

Kirsty.thorley@doncaster.gov.uk
Sheffield Liz Darcy Malone
Liz.darcymalone@sohas.co.uk