Making a positive difference in the workplace

‘People are an organisation’s most valuable resource’……..stated by most, practiced by few. But organisations rely on healthy workers to simply function, let alone be competitive. Workplace wellness is inextricably linked to productivity, and the organisations that flourish in today’s environment will be those that invest in the well-being of their employees.

Sport Waitakere, in partnership with Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS), assist workplaces in Waitakere City to achieve the Heart Beat Challenge (HBC) award through a proven programme. It requires the workplace to make a series of small changes in three priority areas: physical activity, nutrition and environment.

Baseline data is collected and we then work to the needs of each individual workplace and help them develop an action plan for the 3 areas. Once this is achieved, the workplace is then eligible for their HBC award.

There are a number of workplaces signed up to this FREE wellness programme. And some workplaces are achieving exceptional results. For example:

Massey YMCA, under the championship of Tania and the team now have a wellness policy in place, have brought in new food guidelines for children’s lunch boxes in their Y-Under Fives Childcare Centre, and have developed their own garden and worm farm. Not to mention all the competitive teams that took part in the Feetbeat walking challenge. And a nutrition talk offered to the entire staff.

Another passionate wellness team is Janey & Afega at Tasti products in Te Atatu Peninsula. They have completed an amazing activity team challenge that engaged with most of the site, and introduced the sport of Turbo Touch through taster clinics at The Trusts Stadium. A nutrition talk and another team challenge are on the cards for this fast moving crew early in the New Year.

Sport Waitakere would like to congratulate these two, and many other workplaces for their leadership and motivation. Keep up the great work!

If you would like more information, or would like to sign your workplace up for this programme, please contact Elaine More elaine.more@sportwaitakere.co.nz or call 966 3120.