The awards, launched in 2013, are based on Britain’s largest and most comprehensive annual workplace wellness survey and this year received over 32,500 employee responses from 112 companies, a three-fold increase in the number of participating companies since launch. The survey was developed by Vitality, the company changing health and life insurance for good, and is conducted in partnership with Mercer, the global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement and investments. Research and analysis for Britain’s Healthiest Company is undertaken by the University of Cambridge and RAND Europe, which collaborate on health research through the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research.
Britain’s Healthiest Company surveys both employers and employees to understand how employee health and wellbeing impacts on productivity and company profits. The survey is free of charge and open to all companies with at least 50 employees. Employees are asked questions about their lifestyle behaviours, general health, mental wellbeing, and hard and soft productivity measures.
Companies provide a broad view of leadership and cultural aspects, and corporate policies, practices and facilities that could directly impact on employee health. The results of the two surveys are then considered together to understand how corporate actions are impacting on employee health and productivity.
Britain’s Healthiest Company recognises excellence in workplace wellness across three award categories and three company sizes. The overall award for Britain’s Healthiest Company is based on the combined scores from the Healthiest Workplace** and Healthiest Employee*** awards, to holistically determine Britain’s Healthiest Company. The winning companies were recognised at a ceremony in London and are as follows
Johnson & Johnson, large company winner, gives employees access to on-site physiotherapists and massage therapists as part of its stress management strategy.
Angela Hamlin, HR Director for the pharmaceutical sector at Johnson & Johnson, said:
“We are extremely proud to be named Britain’s Healthiest Company and Workforce. As a leading healthcare organisation we aim to advance the health of people across the world, and where better to start than with our own employees. We have a long history of caring for the health and well-being of our workforce and offer a range of programmes, employee benefits, and facilities for our staff in the UK which have a great rate of uptake. We have set the bar high but our work doesn’t stop here - we will build on the success of these awards and use the results of this survey to guide us as we continue to support our people and their families to live longer, healthier and happier lives.”
Adidas UK, medium companies winner, offers emotional and mental health clinics to all staff as well as life coaches and coaches trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which teaches individuals how they can manage problems by changing the way they think and behave.
Old Mutual, small companies winner, has an employee assistance programme which includes counselling on almost any topic from housing and debt to relationships, care responsibilities and bereavement, with referrals to relevant healthcare professionals and confidential advice also part of the package.
Neville Koopowitz, CEO at Vitality, said:
“Britain’s Healthiest Company provides a unique perspective as we are able to understand how the work environment directly impacts on employee health and productivity. What is clear is that companies which are concerned about employee wellbeing, and have a culture of health within the business, typically have healthier and more productive employees.
“Our research has also demonstrated the very significant role that modifiable risks play in employee productivity. One of the stand-out features of this year's survey has been the importance of sleep and the impact it has on both productivity loss and lifestyle behaviours. This all calls for employers to take a more active role in making their staff healthy. By investing in the health and wellbeing of staff, employers can rise to the productivity challenge in a more progressive, socially acceptable and relevant way for a service economy such as ours.
“The winning organisations in Britain’s Healthiest Company are having a hugely positive effect on the health of their workers and we congratulate them on their fantastic achievement.”
Chris Bailey, Partner at Mercer, commented:
“This year’s Britain’s Healthiest Company shows that more employers than ever are investing in the health of their people. This is essential given the rapid societal change the UK is going through. Maintaining good health is key to keeping the economy buoyant and staving off the impact of talent shortages and the ageing population. Those employers who are pro-active in this area continue to have a competitive advantage.”
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