Staff at a Dundee housing association were praised for their healthy workplace habits on Friday (December 5) during a visit from Minister for Public Health and Dundee East MSP Shona Robison.
Hillcrest Housing Association’s headquarters in South Ward Road were visited by the Minister as a result of their efforts to improve workplace health and well-being, which have earned staff a Silver Healthy Working Lives Award.
The Awards, administered by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, encourage employers to create a healthier workforce and cover a wide range of topics including health promotion, occupational health and safety, employability, mental health and well-being, community involvement, and health and the environment.
Managers at Hillcrest, which provides accommodation and tenancy support services to over 5,000 households, have introduced a range of measures aimed at improving the mental and physical health of the housing association’s 160 workers.
The Minister enjoyed a healthy breakfast with staff and spoke to them about their experiences of the measures introduced as a result of the Award programme, which include regular lunchtime walking sessions and weekly deliveries of free fruit for all staff.
Workers have also benefited from in-house health checks conducted by a local nurse, and information on health issues such as breast cancer and men’s health which are delivered regularly to staff via the organisation’s intranet system.
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison said: “I’ve been very impressed by the level of enthusiasm and dedication which everyone at Hillcrest Housing Association has shown to the Healthy Working Lives Award programme.
“The Scottish Government is committed to doing all we can to improve the health of everyone in Scotland and initiatives such as the Awards programme have a key role to play in this.
“The staff at Hillcrest are a perfect example of how employees can reap the benefits of the Awards programme in terms of a better, and healthier, working environment.”
Hillcrest managers have also worked to address common workplace mental health issues such as stress, with a range of training available to team leaders to help them recognise early warning signs and provide appropriate support as soon as possible. Workers have also been able to take part in stress-reducing activities in the office thanks to regular visits from alternative therapists offering reflexology and massage.
Steve Bell, Strategic Director at the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, said: “Hillcrest is a great example of the kind of benefits that the Awards programme can offer to organisations across the country. Staff have really benefited from the changes that have been introduced and there’s a real demand for the emphasis on workplace health to continue.
“Hillcrest is just one of the workplaces to have benefited from the Awards programme. Around 200 employers have received the Award to date, and nearly 1,000 organisations have applied for the programme. It’s clear that workplace health and safety is an issue which more and more organisations are taking seriously.”
Organisations need to meet core criteria to achieve the three levels of award – Bronze, Silver and Gold – however it is designed to be flexible so employers can select the most relevant topics relevant to their own workforce. Employers who strive to tackle issues such as stress can also apply for the Mental Health and Well-Being Commendation Award.
John Mulloy, Hillcrest’s Group Chief Executive, said: “Staff are every organisation’s most valuable resource, so it’s vital we keep them as healthy and happy as possible to provide the best service we possibly can to our clients.
“The Healthy Working Lives Awards programme has given us a fantastic foundation on which to build a strong, motivated workforce, and we’re delighted that our efforts have been recognised by the Minister for Public Health.
“We’re committed to continuing to extending the support we offer to our employees, and we’re already in the process of working towards both the Gold and Mental Health and Well-being Awards.”
The Healthy Working Lives Award has been developed in consultation with businesses and health professionals across Scotland. It is supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Scotland, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), the Scottish Government, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), NHS Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Jobcentre Plus, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
For further information about the HWL Award, please contact the free national adviceline on 0800 019 2211or visit www.healthyworkinglives.com
The singer in action at the close of SNP Conference 2008
