The Wellness Programme at the Germiston site in South Africa has its roots in an HIV / AIDS programme that began over seven years ago. The programme has extended its coverage to other areas of health and wellness, with a series of events that employees are eager to take part in. Against the backdrop of the recent economic downturn, when employee worries about money may impact health, financial wellness has been added to the package, making this a more holistic programme.
At the Wellness Days held on site, employees were offered health screening for diabetes, blood pressure, body mass index and cholesterol. Other areas of the event covered women’s health, men’s health and oral health. Eye tests were also offered. Outside the Wellness Days, employees and members of their families have free access to counselling, either face to face or over the phone.
The programme has not lost sight of its origins in tackling the issues surrounding HIV / AIDS and helping to remove the stigma. Voluntary counselling and testing sessions were held in January 2010 and April 2011, where employees were urged not to be afraid to test. Well over 200 employees came forward at each session to be tested and receive their results. With the medical advances in treating HIV patients and a more optimistic outlook, it is more important than ever for people to know their status.
On World AIDS Day, a commemoration was held at the Germiston site, and Wellness champions visited a local school to educate pupils about HIV and AIDS.
One problem with the Wellness Days in the past was that not all employees were able to attend, and those working night shifts or indispensable to production at the time found themselves excluded. The solution was to run all events and campaigns over two days, making sure that everyone who wanted to come was able to.
Uptake, indeed, has been hugely positive, with many employees attending the Wellness Days. All the campaigns have attracted an uptake of at least 60%.
The financial wellness campaign took the programme to another level, with employees given advice on how to look after and better manage their finances. A seminar provided information and printed material was also available.
An employee survey inviting suggestions for future campaigns indicated that people would like one on the subject of cancer awareness. This was included in the programme for 2010/11 along with a repeat of the activities that have proved useful and popular over the last few years. A dedicated cancer awareness campaign took place in August 2010 and received a positive response from employees.
Well@Work is providing a broad range of wellness services that many employees could not otherwise afford. Together with the immediate benefits of better health and welfare, the programme creates a sense of belonging among employees that is essential to a committed and sustainable workforce.