Name
Kerry Walker and Liz Nicol
Job title
Directors/Principal Consultants
Organisation
What are you/your organisation currently focusing on in terms of workplace health and wellbeing?
SafetyWorks Group is a Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing consultancy who has a holistic approach to developing leaders, engaging people & managing risk for excellence in safety and wellbeing performance. We seek to understand the problem and context, co-explore solutions, implement with quality, measure impact and strengthen an organisation through change over time. Our holistic approach using behavioural technologies in combination with measurable WHS systems identifies the changes required to grow safe habits at all levels of an organisation.
Internally, as a team we’re focussing on understanding more about Psychological Safety. We undertook an assessment survey earlier this year, collectively discussed our results, and decided to work on strengthening our Psych Safety. We now have regular frank and respectful conversations at our team meetings about each of the survey questions in turn. It’s proving very engaging and rewarding. Each question takes us a bit deeper!
What aspect of workplace health and wellbeing does your organisation do well in?
We take an integrated and systematic approach in all our health and wellbeing projects. One that’s informed by best practice, and the latest research, trends and knowledge. We apply a holistic lens that spans the organisation and broader system in addition to including the employee experience.
What’s your biggest challenge working in workplace health and wellbeing?
Engaging leaders to appreciate the impact of their actions on the success of health, safety and wellbeing initiatives.
How leaders demonstrate that they value the wellbeing of their workers, contractors and everyone impacted by their business creates the culture where people will struggle or people will thrive.
How does WayAhead Workplaces add value to your organisation’s health and wellbeing program?
It’s nice to be part of a group of like-minded people and organisations with a shared vision. It has also been valuable to meet people, swap stories and ideas, and hear about some positive initiatives across a variety of work settings.
How do you deal with stress?
Nurturing a healthy body through regular exercise and a nutritional diet.
Nurturing a healthy mind through yoga and meditation and sufficient down time.
What are the key issues and considerations for people in workplace health and wellbeing roles?
Communicating and aligning with their leaders.
Accepting that they don’t always have the answer – consulting with the workers is key.
Accepting that not everything works – and that’s ok!
Managing frustration when history seems to repeat itself despite hard work.
How do you switch off from work?
Getting into nature – beach walks and swims, bushwalking, bike riding, horse riding.
Connecting with people – sharing a meal, enjoying a concert, movie or theatre, community gardening.
Creating downtime – reading a book, and maybe some Netflix!
What is your best time-saving tip?
Plan, plan and plan. It’s an investment; not always easy to do if you just want to “get in there” and feel you know what needs doing.
What do you think the future of work health and wellness programs look like?
In the mental health and wellbeing space we’re seeing organisations develop greater literacy. It’s becoming more common to take a structured, integrated approach, which is terrific from a preventative and protective perspective.
This article was also published in the WayAhead Mind Reader - to go back there please click here
