Health programs a priority for workers, survey finds

The majority of employees would like their management to provide them with health checks and programs to increase their activity during the day.

This is according to a recent survey of 1500 Sydney train commuters, carried out by the NSW Government’s ‘Get Healthy at Work’ program.

Almost two-thirds of respondents said their workplace could benefit from a workplace health program that included health checks and advice on healthy eating and ways to get more active in the workplace.

The Get Healthy at Work Program is the NSW government’s free workplace health service that provides businesses with tools and support on healthy eating, weight and physical activity which includes free confidential health checks for workers.

Professor Chris Rissel, NSW Office of Preventive Health, urged bosses to consider the program, which has already helped more than 2000 businesses statewide to get healthier.

“The Get Healthy at Work Program gives workplaces resources to help improve workers’ health,” Rissel said.

“Businesses receive support from accredited service providers who assist in developing a health program tailored to their workplace and confidential health checks for workers.

“The findings of this survey show that workers want their employers to provide health programs that help them make healthier eating choices, manage their weight better and improve their physical fitness.”

Being healthy at work can help reduce the prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

“Get Healthy at Work research has found businesses with unhealthy staff are two and a half times more likely to experience high rates of absenteeism, which can add $50,000 to a business’s costs over five years,” Rissel said.

“There is also mounting evidence to support the benefits of workplace health programs, including increased staff recruitment and retention, reduced sick days and greater productivity.”

Lido Group is one business that has used Get Healthy at Work as part of its recruitment and retention strategy and has seen a 70% reduction in staff turnover in the 12 months since it began the program.

“You need to ensure that Get Healthy at Work becomes a part of the business, part of your staff development, retention and development and staff attraction program,” Lido CEO Steve Mackenzie said.

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