Given the amount of time we spend at our jobs, workplaces are an ideal setting for employers to encourage employees to make ‘the healthy choice, the easy choice’, and therefore enjoy leading healthier lifestyles.
But responsibility doesn’t just lie with employers. There’s a lot that you can do as an employee to improve your health while at work, resulting in plenty of benefits, including:
- improved physical health and mental wellbeing
- increased energy and productivity
- reduced stress and other work-related illness
- improved alertness and concentration levels
- greater health awareness and knowledge
- reduced risk of preventable disease.
Get your workplace involved
There are a number of ways you can get the ball rolling and make your workplace more supportive for those who want to make healthy lifestyle changes. You could:
- speak with your manager about implementing a health and wellbeing program, and explain why it is worthwhile for the business
- actively and constructively participate in any health-promoting activity offered by your work
- consider championing your workplace health program, by coordinating activities or hosting events
- become part of a Workplace Health and Wellbeing Committee or set one up
- request to contact the Healthy Workplaces Service for extra support.
Take charge of your own health and wellbeing
Preventive Health SA
Find valuable resources, tools and information to support improving your wellbeing and that of your family by staying healthy, active and connected on the Preventive Health SA website.
Know your rights and participate in consultation
Unions in the workplace | Fair Work Ombudsman
Unions are bodies that represent the interests of workers in particular industries or occupations. Unions play an important role in the workplace. Find out more about the role unions play in the workplace.
Some of their key roles include being able to resolve workplace issues by being a voice for employees and acting as a bargaining representative during bargaining negotiations.
Other responsibilities of unions include ensuring employers are meeting their minimum obligations and looking into suspected breaches of:
- workplace laws
- discrimination laws
- workplace safety laws.
Become a Health and Safety Representative | SafeWork SA
The primary role of a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is to represent workers on health and safety through ongoing consultation and cooperation between the workers of a work group and the employer. Find out more about the role of Health and Safety Representatives, eligibility, employer and employee responsibilities and training.