Creating Wellbeing at Work

Presentation by Graham LoweHealth Promotion Agency workshops

September 15, 17 & 19, 2014

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Focus

• Wellbeing & performance • Healthy organizations • Culture & leadership• Actions you can take

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Wellbeing & performance

www.grahamlowe.ca

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Future workforce challenges

Costs

Engagement

TalentHealthy, safe

and productive workplaces

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People-performance links

Engaged workforce

Healthy & safe employees

Higher performance

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Happy employees = sustainable success

See: Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb 2012.

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Psychological health & safety risks

National StandardPsychologically healthy & safe workplaces…• Foster psychological well-being and enhance

organizational performance• Promote respectful relationships between staff and

customers• Support staff experiencing psychological difficulties• Expand Occupational Health & Safety management

systemsSource: Mental Health Commission of Canada. http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/5346

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Healthy Organizations

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Looking through a health lens… Holistic Integrative Long-term Strategic

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Healthy organization building blocks

Positive culture

Inclusive leadership

Vibrant workplaces

Inspired employees

Source: G. Lowe. (2010). Creating Healthy Organizations.

Health, Safety & Performance

Successful and

Sustainable Organizations

Collaboration, leadership &

culture

Higher employee

wellbeing & engagement

Healthy and safe

workplaces

This model builds on the WorkSafeVision of “working safer”

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HealthyOrganization

ComprehensivePrograms

High Impact

Low Impact Individual

Risk Factors

Strategic impact of wellness

Where is your organization on this trajectory?

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Culture & Leadership

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New Zealand needs a culture that recognizes health and safety as an investment in good business practice, improved productivity and reliability, and an engaged workforce.

Working Safer: A Blueprint for Health and Safety at Work, 2013

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“The Golden Rule” is a corporate value

A tale of two cultures

Lac-Mégantic train derailment: 47 dead

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Trust, engagement and performance

Source: G. Lowe. (2012). How employee engagement matters for hospital performance. Healthcare Quarterly 15 (2), 29-39.

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How positive is your culture? Your Response

1) The organization has strong people-focused values.

2) Employees know and personally identify with the values of the organization.

3) Supervisors are selected based on their people skills.

To what extent do you disagree or agree that each of these statements describes your organization?

1 = Strongly disagree , 2 = Disagree, 3 = Neither, 4 = Agree, 5 = Strongly agree

How inclusive is your leadership? Your Response

4) Managers encourage employees to take initiative.

5) Employees are able to improve their immediate work environment.

6) Employees are trusted to do what is best for customers / clients.

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Discussion

What scores highest?

How have you achieved this?

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Actions you can take

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What you can do

1. Engage others

2. Design for wellbeing

3. Integrate initiatives

4. Model behaviours

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Costs???$0

• Time• Commitment• Follow-through

Costs???$0

• Time• Commitment• Follow-through

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Engage

• Relationships• Job• Team• Supports

Develop a shared workplace vision

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Improvements are a shared responsibility

Values Actions

Vision

EVERYONE IS A LEADER

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DesignVIBRANT WORKPLACE INGREDIENTS1. Respect and fairness2. 2-way communication3. Autonomy and input4. Adequate resources 5. Supportive supervisors 6. Challenging work7. Recognition and rewards8. Safe and healthy environment

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How do you design change?

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Recruitment & retention

Integrate

Link wellness and engagement goals

• Empower local workplace wellness committees

• Coordinate with OHS committees

• Foster employee participation and “ownership”

• Recognize that morale influences participation

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Engagement Wellbeing

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Model the corporate values

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To summarizeYou can be an effective change agent:

1. Be guided by values and vision

2. Involve your employees / co-workers

3. Communicate wellbeing-performance links

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Write down ONE action you will take in the next week to build a healthier organization:

1. _______________________________

Your commitment…

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Questions & Comments?

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The Graham Lowe Group | www.grahamlowe.ca | glowe@grahamlowe.ca

For information and resources go to:www.creatinghealthyorganizations.ca

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Follow me on Twitter: @HealthyOrgs