17 Feb What does a Wellbeing Champion post look like and what is its purpose?
Putting in place a health and wellbeing strategy is essential for businesses in the 21st Century to recruit talented staff and provide a safe, productive and harmonious environment in which to work and so reduce staff turnover rates.
Creating the post of a wellbeing champion does not necessarily need to be someone from the HR department, it can be any member of staff who is enthusiastic about health and wellbeing and will be proactive in promoting the policy to other employees.
The position will be two-fold…
Firstly, they will be the point of contact for anyone who wishes to raise any concerns whether about themselves or colleagues they are concerned about. So, perhaps a colleague who is not in HR may be more suitable to this role as staff may feel more comfortable especially if they are not confident initially of what reaction they will receive.
Secondly, they will also be the person staff can go to with their own ideas of what they would like to see put in place around wellbeing knowing that their ideas will be passed on and considered and so being made to feel a part of the process.
It is always a good idea to have someone designated as a point of contact, but they can, of course, be supported by a group of staff by forming a wellbeing committee. The committee can then plan meetings and create schedules to monitor how matters are progressing and feedback information. They will also ensure that everyone in the business knows about the initiatives you are providing and develop these further from the feedback they receive.
By doing this you are creating structure and accountability. If plans are put in place and people are given responsibilities to carry out certain tasks there is more likelihood of matters being kept on track.
Initially, time and money will need to be spent to ensure the Wellbeing Champion is trained to carry out this role including how to deal with matters of confidentiality. It will also need to be decided how many hours a week or month is dedicated to this role as, of course, the day job cannot be neglected. However, providing this is all agreed, the creation of a wellbeing champion/committee will reap rewards in developing a more engaged and motivated workforce.
If you would like any more information or advice, please feel free to contact Kathy Scott on 07989 367 669 or email info@handsonatwork.co.uk