Keeping Business Fighting Fit Top of the Health Agenda
March 25, 2019
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and the Public Health Agency (PHA) supported a recent Health & Wellbeing session at Lisburn Enterprise Organisation to promote the importance of employee health & wellbeing in maintaining productivity and a happy workforce.
This event was part of the ‘Invest in Health, Profit in Business’ Partnership which the Council and the PHA established seven years ago. The partnership focuses on encouraging local businesses to take a proactive approach to employee health through a number of initiatives.
Alderman William Leathem, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, welcomed delegates to the ‘Health & Wellbeing’ event in Lisburn said: “It is great to see a wide variety of local businesses taking a keen interest in improving the health and wellbeing of their staff. Even small scale initiatives aimed at employee wellbeing can help employers and employees realise that a happier and healthier workforce leads to a healthier bottom line. The recent round of small grants from the partnership saw 14 local businesses get financial assistance to introduce new staff health initiatives.
“We are very lucky to have a number of expert speakers: Jo McAlister, Jane McClenaghan and Michelle Major here today. They will help us identify how to reduce stress and gain control of our life, what are healthy weekday meals and snacks and the benefits of simple things like smiling and laughing to improve happiness. Ensuring a good work life balance and team activities can help to reduce absenteeism, improve communication and increase motivation all of which help businesses succeed,” concluded Alderman Leathem.
Jo McAlister talked about the importance of brain training to reduce stress. Within a 24 hour day stress can take up a lot of time and energy that detracts from your work. Jo identified simple methods to change mind sets like altering the image in your mind of situations which stress you to a more positive one. It is that simple!
Jane identified essential snacks and meals that provide the necessary nutrition to stay healthy. She also gave a demonstration of how quick and easy it is for busy professionals to make healthy snacks and meals.
Michelle Major gave the businesses present positive tools to manage the stress in their lives and promote calmness. She finished the session with a ‘Laughter Yoga’ lesson which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The Council and the PHA were delighted with this Health & Wellbeing event and look forward to seeing it repeated in the future. The partnership between the Council and the PHA continues to promote initiatives on a wide range of health issues with the aim of improving health and wellbeing in the workplace. The very successful ‘Business Games Challenge’ which ran from February to March this year, saw over 100 people from over 20 local businesses participate in events which focused on increasing physical activity through dodge ball, wheelchair basketball and ten pin bowling.
For more information on the Invest in Health Profit in Business programme log on to www.lisburncastlereagh.go.vuk/business_solutions or email Kevin Hoey on kevin.hoey@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk