Galway companies urged to focus on wellbeing

Galway’s workforce wants to get healthier and they believe their employers can play a role in helping them according to new national research commissioned by the Nutrition and Health Foundation (NHF).

Two thirds (65%) of employees nationally recognise they need to consume healthier food and drinks. However, just 15 percent said their employers provide healthy food choices in company canteens or vending machines.

Only one third of employees take the recommended weekly level of exercise for a healthy lifestyle, while four in ten office-bound workers say they are not physically active at all during their working day. One fifth (21%) of inactive workers cite the overall lack of facilities with one in ten (11%) highlighting the lack of shower facilities.

The nationwide survey of employees was undertaken to mark the announcement of Ireland’s first Workplace Wellbeing Day, which will take place on Friday, March 27..  National Workplace Wellbeing Day is supported by Ibec.

Healthy workplaces and workforces have also been identified as a priority area under Healthy Ireland, the national framework to improve health and wellbeing across the population. The nationwide campaign aims to help improve employee health through promoting effective wellbeing initiatives targeted at better nutrition and physical activity in workplaces around Ireland.

Companies in Galway are being asked to put a special focus on wellbeing on the day through promoting existing and new initiatives available in their workplace as well as hosting special events for staff.  Further details of how Galway companies can get involved are available at www.nutritionandhealth.ie

Launching Workplace Wellbeing Day 2015, Danny McCoy, CEO, Ibec said “Employee wellbeing is a high priority for companies because of its positive impact on productivity and absenteeism.  With 11 million days lost through absenteeism every year at a cost of €1.5bn, improving employee wellbeing is in everyone’s best interest.

“This campaign is about employers looking at what they are doing in this area already, identifying what they’re doing well, promoting it amongst employees and sharing it with other companies. Equally importantly, is the identification of where improvements can be made, and making them too,” he said.