Employers in Wales setting gold standard for health and wellbeing in workplace

A new report from the Healthy Working Wales team at Public Health Wales highlights the many ways that employers in Wales have stepped up to the mark and are leading the way on prioritising their employees’ mental and physical health and wellbeing during and following the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘How employers in Wales responded to the Covid-19 pandemic: A summary of approaches to staff wellbeing by Wales-based companies’ focuses on some of the innovative activities and approaches taken by organisations and employers. The key themes include:  

• Encouraging and promoting mental health and wellbeing

• Promoting physical wellbeing initiatives

• Staff communication and training

• Staff engagement, recognition and support

• Digital communications

• Protecting the community

• Making sustainable changes

• Equality, diversity and inclusion

Mary-Ann McKibben, Public Health Consultant Lead for Healthy Working Wales, said: 

“We know that when employees are fairly rewarded, heard and represented, secure and able to progress in a healthy, inclusive environment where rights are respected, that not only do the individuals thrive, but so do the organisations and the communities in which they are based.  

“The Coronavirus pandemic put enormous additional stresses on both people and businesses alike and we want to celebrate the innovation, resilience and commitment that these businesses in Wales demonstrated when faced with this challenge, and beyond. 

“Healthy Working Wales will continue to play a vital role in supporting employers to promote, protect and enhance their employees’ wellbeing in a post-pandemic world. This includes tailoring approaches to sectors and size of organisations, and equipping employers with the skills, knowledge and resources to understand and best support the wellbeing needs of their workforce.” 

Bridgend College went above and beyond to reduce its carbon footprint for the benefit of its employees, students and community, despite the additional pressures brought by the pandemic.    

Chris Long, Head of Health, Safety and Sustainability, Bridgend College, said: 

"Coupled with climate literacy and sustainability training and resources for all staff, as well as our current person-centred leadership programme for managers, this will act as a force for tackling climate and sustainability across the organisation.” 

The full report can be found here.

How employers in Wales responded to the Covid-19 pandemic (PDF, 3.6Mb)