There are many ways that leaders can show their commitment to creating a healthy workplace.
Commit on paper
When the leadership team document their commitment to workplace health and wellbeingit lends credibility to the initiative and conveys a culture of care.
Document your commitment by:
- expanding your existing Work Health and Safety policy to specify physical, health mental health and wellbeing.
- creating a new health and wellbeing policy in consultation with employees
- developing a mission statement or pledge that details the commitment to health and wellbeing.
Lead by example
It’s important that leaders ‘walk the talk and live the changes and policies that they’re asking people to embrace.
You’ll lead by example if you:
- show interest and enthusiasm in people’s health, safety, and wellbeing
- lead health and wellbeing activities in the workplace
- participate in skills building, trainings and programs
- understand the links between leadership behaviour and people’s health and wellbeing.
Talk about it
Communication is so important to achieve your health and wellbeing goals.
You’ll be communicating well if you:
- encourage open discussion about work health, safety, and wellbeing and opportunities for improvement
- make health and wellbeing a regular and key topic at team meetings
- give positive feedback to individuals and teams for good wellbeing performance.
Systemise health and wellbeing
If leaders make health and wellbeing a part of their everyday operations, then it becomes a priority for everyone.
To systemise, you can:
- set business goals/targets for health and wellbeing performance
- include health and wellbeing responsibilities in job descriptions
- include health and wellbeing in performance reviews
- add health and wellbeing into workplace inductions
- endorse procedures and processesfor workplace health and wellbeing.
Resources
Work health, safety and wellbeing policy template (PDF, 118.5 KB)
Health and wellbeing policy template (DOCX, 578.5 KB)
Health and wellbeing pledge (DOCX, 576.3 KB)