Gin And Wellness

The first workplace wellness offerings started in the industrial revolution when employers allowed ‘gin carts' to circulate the factory floors helping relieve workers monotony in their repetitive jobs carried out in pretty dire conditions with poor hygiene, polluted air and long working hours. It is no wonder that life expectancy and morbidity was so low in years gone by. How times have changed…

There have been many improvements since these days with health and safety, a pay package that allows you a holiday or to buy the latest clothes or electronic devices, occupational health and workers rights have come on a long way. But that’s where the differences end… how many contact centres or offices have you been in where there are rows of computers and telephones, circulating air conditioned air, long working hours, lack of sunshine or natural light. It is no wonder that wellness in the workplace is becoming such an important part of company’s policy and that employees are expecting their bosses to take more notice.

The current trend in wellness is mindfulness on the back of increasing awareness about mental wellbeing in the workplace. The recognition of bosses that the conditions their staff are working in is sub-optimal for top productivity and a positive attitude from the workforce. We have moved through the phases from smoking cessation and diet clubs on the shop floor to the focus on mental health. And it’s mazing how many people you talk to who feel liberated to be able to discuss suicidal thoughts or mental illness that they or someone they know has experienced without the stigma which was attached. But we must remember that wellness is about balance. Balance in all aspects of our lives – body, mind spirit and certainly work-life balance.

So when we see employers paying for their staff to have monthly wellness appointments whether that’s a massage or reflexology, or company’s paying for health insurance for their staff so that they can access osteopathy or psychotherapy we are giving them a ‘high five’ as they are taking steps which will have these effects on their business:

-Increase productivity through improved employee relations and creativity

– Reduced spending on sickness absence through cover and pay

– Meeting some of your corporate social responsibility initiatives by improving working practices using wellness strategies.

– Make your company more attractive to the best candidates by showing you have a ‘caring’ side to your business which encourages a well environment.

The benefits are not just for the shop floor employees, because when we have seen company directors and team leaders or managers come in for regular wellness appointments – we also hear that they are able to find focus and clarity to make difficult decisions or find strategies to move their business forward. They find that their health starts to improve meaning they are less distracted by worries such as back pain or stress. And remember that 2 of the top 3 sickness absence reasons are preventable through wellness initiatives – that’s musculoskeletal pain/injury and stress. The third reason is minor infection such as cold, flu and sickness, which will have less impact if the workforce is healthier and not breathing recycled air all day! A quick exercise should quickly open your eyes to the financial benefits that wellness has on a company’s bottom line.

So, gone are the days of the gin carts, and thankfully so too. But our working environment and conditions are still having a profound effect on our health and wellbeing so it is vitally important that employers embrace the wellness movement and keep their business moving with the times. Gin and tonic anyone?