The Health and Productivity Institute of Australia, the peak body of workplace health providers, has awarded its prestigious Corporate Health and Productivity Award to the Queensland Government’s Department of Public Works. Their 10 year plus program, which has included several of Ford Health’s services, excelled in its corporate commitment to employee health, program innovation and leadership, and program achievements. What are their keys to success? Read on…
The award winning Public Works program, “Pathways to Better Health”, commenced with a needs assessment and business case in 2000 and has grown to be a valuable resource for 8000 Departmental employees throughout Queensland. Program activities include tiered health assessments, cancer screening, flu vaccinations, team based exercise challenge (mychallenge – 10 week exercise challenge) and corporate events, health expos, presentations and workshops, and even driver safety training.
Manager of Workplace Health and Safety, Mr Allan Lally, attributes the success of the program to several factors, including flexibility, keeping abreast of new advances in corporate health and productivity, and a strong commitment by the Department’s senior leaders. Mr Lally noted that the senior leadership group were “prepared to take a risk initially, based on the right evidence and business case”, and that this courage and commitment has made day-to-day tasks easier for the team in charge of running of the program.
The Public Works program received high praise from Sean Sullivan, International President and Chief Executive of the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM). Mr Sullivan described the program as “one of the best”, “truly amazing”, and “strategic” with “very high level goals and objectives”.
Public Works have identified benefits for their business financially including a reduction in lost days due to illness and injury, and personally for their employees including personal and life changing health experiences.
This supports what is driving an increasing number of Australian organisations to implement workplace health programs. The most common reasons for commencing a program include:
Benefits that are being noted through workplace health programs include:
Perhaps your business or organisation can learn from Public Works experience? Lessons learnt over the last 10 years have been very useful both for organisations starting out and those maintaining the momentum of their health programs. Contact Ford Health on 1300 660 986 to discuss how this experience may assist your organisation to start, modify or improve your workplace health program.
Or maybe your business might like to consider applying for the 2011 HAPIA Corporate Health and Productivity Awards. Applications will be invited early 2011 and we look forward to hearing from you.
References:
HAPIA (2010). Best Practice Guidelines. Workplace Health in Australia.
Dorizas, Angela (2010). “State agencies lead on workplace health and safety”. Governmentnews.com.au. 12th August 2010
Is your organisation fit to do business?
In 1960 the age group of 15 to 24 years grew by 67,000. Between 2000-2001 it grew by 25,000 and in 40 years it will grow by 11,000.
For every new young person entering the labour market today there are seven workers over the age of 45 years available.
Centre for Business Work and Ageing (2005) Swinburne University of Technology.