The day-to-day pressure of working in a fast-paced, corporate environment can take its toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of employees. Coping mechanisms dwindle and tempers can fray.
It is well documented that happy and healthy staff are more engaged and productive, but competing demands from the workplace often make finding the time to invest in your own health and wellbeing a real challenge.
Workplace Health Association of Australia CEO Dr John Lang recently revealed that when organisations integrated best practice health guidelines into their OH&S strategies they not only saw improvements in the overall health of their employees, but company culture was also positively impacted.
The JOEM study of 28,000 workers across five different sectors found that an integrated approach to health and wellbeing resulted in employees being:
- 4.4 times more likely to be proud to work for their company
- 7.4 times more likely to be satisfied with their job
- 1.7 times more likely to balance the demands of work and home
So with the evidence clearly pointing towards health and cultural benefits, what exactly are employers doing to deliver integrated workplace health strategies?
While more traditional work health methods such as wellness seminars and screening programs remain popular delivery methods, the number of businesses taking advantage of developments in technology is increasing.
A 2015 Bupa survey found that digital health platforms including wellness portals and mobiles are likely to emerge as a key delivery trend moving forward because they offer the ability to increase the scale, accessibility and affordability of programs. This is supported by figures that show the extensive penetration of digital technology:
- In 2014 the number of mobile devices in use worldwide exceeded the global population (and they are multiplying faster than us!)
- In Australia, 53% of the population owns ALL 3 mobile electronic devices – Smartphone, Tablet and Laptop
- 55% of mobile web users now use mobile as either their primary or exclusive means of going online
- There are more than 100,000 health related apps out there!
Businesses need to think outside the square and adopt accessible, digital programs such as apps as key delivery tools for OH&S wellness programs for their employees. If not, they could be left behind in the effort to improve workplace health and wellbeing as well as missing out on enjoying the rewards of important cultural benefits such as higher levels of engagement, reduced absenteeism and better staff retention rates.
The Wellness@Work Conference & Expo is being held on April 1, 2016 at the Hordern Pavilion & Royal Hall Of Industries, Sydney. It will showcase leading workplace health and wellness solutions with 20 speakers, workshops, roundtables and exhibition booths. Click here for more information and bookings.
[1.] Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine: September 2015 -Vol 57 #9 -p 958–964
[2.] GSMA Intelligence & US Census Bureau (2015)
[3.] Deloitte Media Consumption Survey (2014)
[4.] Global Mobile Media Consumption Report –InMobi (2014)
About the authors
Allegra Consulting
Our team is comprised of experts from many areas within the broader change and transformation spaces who love sharing their knowledge.
Related services & courses
CONSULTING SERVICES
Organisational culture management
Having the right organisational or ‘corporate’ culture coupled with the right mindsets, skillsets and behaviours can transfo…
