Employers

Everyone has a role in maintaining their own and each others health at work. However, employers have a duty of care to protect and safeguard the health of its employees.

Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) should not be regarded as an optional extra, but is worthwhile for businesses, companies and its employees.

The benefits not only include the increased flexibility gained by the long term reduction in sickness rates. Also, healthy, motivated employees increase productivity and capacity to innovate.

Workplace Health Promotion also enhances the business’s public images and makes it more attractive as an employer (Health Employees in Healthy Organisations, ENWHP, '03)

There are positive effects also for employees – their health problems occur less often, there is a feeling of well-being in a pleasant working environment and enthusiasm for work is greater (Health Employees in Healthy Organisations, ENWHP, '03).

The world of work continues to change, bringing with it increasing pressure and challenges for both the workforce and management - These challenges can be met by a healthy and motivated workforce.

The health promoting workplace is one in which all aspects which affect our health are considered. The three main areas we can help you to address employee health include: The Environment, The Organisation, The Individual.

Environment

Providing work environment that protects the health & well-being of the workforce through:

• Implementation of health and safety legislation.
• Work towards an employee oriented management culture
• Provision of health enhancing job characteristics.
• Provision of occupational health.
  
  

Organisation

Exploring how work is organised to promote good health and maximise efficiency.

• An open organisational structure and climate.
• An open communication style
• Clear roles and responsibilities.
• Effective work organisation
• Provision of feedback to employees and training policies.
• Draft, implement and review health enhancing policies.
  
  

Individual

• Providing opportunities and support for the promotion of individual healthy lifestyles by:
• Supporting activities that encourage positive lifestyle behaviour changes in areas such as physical activity,
• smoking, healthy eating, alcohol, stress management.
• Providing information on key health issues.