29th March 2023
It is a topic that has experienced greater attention since the pandemic, but it has always been a crucial element of operating a responsible business – wellbeing of employees is the one thing you can count on to improve health and productivity in the workplace.
The COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of manufacturing employees according to several industry reports published over the past year or so.
The Make UK “Health, Wealth and Wellbeing for Manufacturers” report is based on a survey of 270 manufacturing companies and states that 71% of companies surveyed saw an increase in mental health issues in the preceding year. And 57% of companies were reporting an increase in musculoskeletal disorders, and 56% of companies claimed that work-life balance had become more important.
Implementing mental health resources, health and safety training, ergonomic assessments, and flexible working arrangements, among other initiatives has received more industry attention today than it ever has. By prioritising employee wellbeing, manufacturing companies can create a positive and supportive environment.
That’s the goal of HR People Partner, Malcolm Condon, and his band of ‘Wellbeing Champions’ promoting health and productivity at PP Control & Automation.
We sat down for an interview with Malcolm to see just how well this wellbeing initiative was coming along.
The Wellbeing Champions initiative was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that had a significant impact on us all. We were acutely aware that some of our colleagues had expressed feelings of anxiety, stress and worry or even boredom, loneliness, and frustration. The period threw up a real cocktail of emotions for many, which until now was unprecedented.
And we were fully operational throughout the pandemic which meant a completely new way to go about the working week, no matter what your role. It felt like things had changed overnight and because of that, all sorts of feelings and new challenges arose.
There was a clear increase in footfall of employees approaching the HR office to talk to me about the impact of covid on their wellbeing. We wanted to do something to help, and it was obvious that the impact of the pandemic required a different kind of support mechanism.
The Wellbeing Champions would act as an easy access network of volunteers, on-hand to help any employee with the challenges they faced daily. This forum of volunteers acts as one powerful voice for all their colleagues’ concerns, and who actively listen and engage. When required, the Wellbeing Champions would also have the resources to signpost people to other support groups.
Wellbeing is more than just mental health and work-life balance. We define wellbeing as a positive state experienced by individuals.
Like health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic, and environmental conditions. Wellbeing encompasses quality of life and the ability of people to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose.
A community’s wellbeing can be determined by the extent to which people are resilient, have the capacity for action, and are prepared to transcend challenges.
Every Wellbeing Champion is a volunteer and volunteering is open to anyone.
Our qualified Mental Health First Aiders train each volunteer in the skills needed to identify the signs and symptoms of several mental health issues when they join. But what it comes down to first and foremost, is attitude and personality.
We look for a clear passion for helping others and the ability to listen, to demonstrate empathy and a willingness to get involved.
There have been so many excellent examples of the Wellbeing Champions positively impacting employees in lots of ways.
Recently, we had a great success after one of our Champions noticed that several women were going through menopause and recommended that the company did something specific to support them. We all loved the idea and ran menopause awareness sessions with a qualified nurse. The first event was so well-received that we ended up putting on a second event almost immediately after.
Another suggestion was to offer every employee a free blood pressure check, as we had become aware of stories that showed how so many people go about day-to-day life unaware of potentially life-threatening conditions. Several employees did find that they had issues that they were unaware of and are now being supported by their GPs to bring it under control. This was a potentially lifesaving intervention.
A separate initiative with close ties to the Wellbeing Champions is the company’s Switched On programme, which is intended to encourage people to recognise the great work their colleagues do every day. Every month we have a flood of nominations and people are awarded and recognised for their work. We also recognise a stand-out nominee for employee of the month.
The Wellbeing Champions are also the driving force behind PP In the Community, another positive initiative but this time, designed to help and support the wider community. From regular fundraising events to volunteers offering a hand to community projects, including a list of maintenance work for Landywood & District Voluntary Help Centre.
Each month, the Wellbeing Champions meet to discuss the ‘state of the nation’ and look for opportunities to promote good causes. Any feedback or actions are then communicated to our employees using several different communication methods, from videos and presentations displayed on screens throughout the facility, to direct notices and the internal newsletter.
Any Wellbeing Champion can receive feedback and communicate it during the monthly meetings, but information is also captured on feedback forms or through the PP Pulse initiative, which uses surveys to feed the continuous improvement of the business’ employee engagement efforts.
The easiest way to answer this question is to simply say that PP C&A’s employees are exceptional people, and the Wellbeing Champions demonstrate just how exceptional they can be.
Wellbeing Champions are all passionate volunteers, and the initiatives remains fresh and active because each and every one of them has made a personal commitment to support their colleagues as well as the wider community.
We’ve made a great start in our efforts to support the wider community, but we’ve made a concerted effort to increase this type of engagement this year. We want to do more in the local community, but we also recognise that this sometimes means giving up time on weekends and during holidays, so we have committed to paying our employees when they do good work in the community.
The Champions are even more forthright with new ideas and suggestions than they were when we started, and we have a better spread of champions throughout departments to boot, so there’s plenty of opportunity to increase the amount of wellbeing topics we cover throughout the year. We’re also looking at how we can align with national events and days that drive specific mental and physical health awareness.
Our next wellbeing session is an important one for people working in manufacturing, and again, we’ve had to double-up on the amount of sessions we’re hosting. The topic is musculoskeletal awareness and it will offer 90-minute workshops on the anatomy and physiology of joints, muscles and tendons, the common problems that occur, and the role of inflammation in digestive health. The workshops will be delivered by a qualified nutritionist and lifestyle therapist.
Bringing health professionals into the workplace is something that’s worked well so far, so that’s another area we’re keen to address with other wellbeing topics and discussion points.
Our goal this year is to educate and inform our colleagues, and to encourage them to take the time to stop and focus on their own physical and mental wellbeing.
PP C&A employees were the creators and are also the driving force behind 10 core values, which form the centre of how the company operates and collaborates with staff, customers, suppliers, and wider stakeholders.
Wellbeing Champions are the living embodiment of our values. This can be highlighted most significantly through our value of ‘Passion & Teamwork’.
CORE VALUE
“We want to build more than just a team. We always watch out for each other and care for each other. We always act with integrity, respect, compassion, and loyalty; be a good listener. Being honest when interacting with others leads to strong relationships built on trust and faith. We can use these strong relationships to accomplish so much more than we could otherwise.”
To be honest, we haven’t come up against any obstacles yet and there certainly wasn’t any obstacles when setting up the initiative – volunteers made themselves available straight away and they were not difficult to attract. But there will likely be new challenges arising as the initiative grows and if we’re as ambitious as we are enthusiastic about this, then there will be a lot of work to attract more volunteers and manage several projects at once.
So far, the company has supported every idea the Champions have put forward, so it’s up to us to keep up the momentum and live by that core value of passion and teamwork – if we work together and support one another, we can keep growing this initiative and stand out because of it.
PP C&A is a great place to work because we have always engaged in initiatives like the Wellbeing Champions, and we don’t do things half-hearted or with short-term visions. We always look at the bigger picture. Whilst the initiative was created off the back of the covid impact, the bigger picture is that looking after employees is just the right thing to do.
We recognise that supporting employee wellbeing can have a significant impact on both the employees and the organisation as a whole. Some of the wider impacts of supporting employee wellbeing and making a difference include better employee engagement and retention, reduced absenteeism, and improved culture and productivity. So, why wouldn’t we want to invest in this for the long-term?
Something we have lots of experience in thanks to our continuous improvement initiatives is refreshing and rebranding programmes to retain engagement. PP in the Community and other initiatives have seen rebrands in recent months and it is a proven way to keep people on their toes. But as long as the volunteers remain as passionate as they are, I am confident that the initiative will prosper and grow.
PP C&A recognises that a critical aspect of the company’s success comes down to its employees’ health and happiness. Giving them every opportunity to be even more productive, engaged, and motivated is a signal of responsible business practice, and so investing in workplace wellbeing becomes a smart business decision.
There are many ways to invest in workplace wellbeing, and spearheaded by the Wellbeing Champions, PP C&A is providing access to healthcare services, wellness programs, creating a positive work culture, and promoting work-life balance.
By prioritising wellbeing initiatives, the company also benefits from a more positive reputation, which is helping attract and retain top talent. It also fosters a sense of community and belonging among employees, which leads to higher levels of collaboration, innovation, and overall business success.
Malcolm Condon, Scott Ward, Lisa Lawley, Tracey O’Quinn, Sophie Young, Angie Carroll, Emma Partridge, and Richard Spears.
As part of an ongoing campaign that celebrates every walk of working life at PP Control & Automation, you’ll find out what makes us, well, us!
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