NEWS & RESEARCH

Investors in People Launch New Award

Investors in People today launched a new award to recognise employers who have strengthened their organisation by investing in the health and wellbeing of employees. This is the result of extensive research which shows that effective and proactive management of health and wellbeing can improve business performance by increasing productivity, reducing sickness and absenteeism and enhancing employee retention.

Backed by the Department of Health, Investors in People worked with over 400 organisations to develop and pilot a Good Practice Award framework. This comprehensive, practical guidance is delivered by trained advisors and assessors.
Feedback shows that employers experience real improvements to health and wellbeing within their organisation as a result of working with the Good Practice Award framework. Employers that successfully meet its requirements are rewarded by being recognised with the new Investors in People Health and Wellbeing Good Practice Award.
The first seven organisations to achieve this accolade were presented with their certificates by Dame Carol Black – the government's National Director for Health and Work – at a special awards ceremony in London today. These include Claridge’s, Kimberly–Clark and NHS Suffolk.

Jane Jones, acting Chief Executive of Investors and People UK, said: “Over the past five years we have worked with some of the UK’s leading employers to analyse the role of health and wellbeing in the workplace. This isn’t just about fruit and gym membership, and nor is it about perks or ‘nice to haves’. It’s about embedding health and wellbeing into the culture of the business to ensure everyone benefits. The organisations we have worked with recognise these benefits and we believe this new award will help others reap the same rewards.”

Dame Carol Black DBE said: “Improving the health of the UK’s workforce will have a critical impact not only on individuals, but on businesses and the UK economy as a whole. There are simple steps that all organisations can take to ensure the wellbeing of employees. Focusing on specific health issues is obviously important; however employers should not underestimate the role that better management and engagement of employees can have on the wellbeing – and ultimately productivity – of their workforce.”

Linda Mabb, Health Services Director at Kimberly–Clark, said: “Our research has shown that the health and wellbeing of our people has a significant impact on the business performance, highlighting that it pays to examine what you are doing and how this links into overall business strategy. The Investors in People Good Practice Award has given us an edge in terms of the health and wellbeing programme we offer to employees which in turn has improved their engagement, morale, team dynamics, resilience and performance levels and we are seeing these benefits across all of our sites in the UK.”