Occupational Health and Wellbeing

Our proactive in-house Occupational Health and Wellbeing service (OHW) is staffed by Consultant Occupational Physicians and Specialist Occupational Health Nurses, supported by a business psychologist and administrative staff.

The aim of the service is to preserve the wealth-creating capability of our workforce by promoting optimal health and wellbeing.

On an anonymous basis, the service also collates and analyses performance data on a range of health and illness outcomes, which enables us to implement specific programmes to address any major issues.

Health assessments

Our ‘Get Healthy Stay Healthy’ programme provides our employees with the opportunity to have a confidential one-hour voluntary health screening undertaken by an Occupational Health Nurse. This includes an assessment of their health and lifestyle and leads to the early detection of health problems and tailored advice on illness prevention. Currently 41% of our workforce have taken advantage of this programme and, in 2011, 487 employees took part in an assessment.

Fitness for work or health surveillance health assessments are obligatory for employees in certain occupational groups. Our health surveillance programme in 2011 showed no cases of occupational asthma or allergic rhinitis (from exposure to biomass) and no new or deteriorating cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) (from exposure to hand transmitted vibration).

Sickness absence

The overall company sickness absence rate was 5.72% for lost time, calculated on a rolling absence basis. This exceeded our target for the year (4.8%). We anticipate that our new wellbeing strategy will make an impact on this performance in 2012.

Mental wellbeing

We recognise the impact that common mental health problems (CMHP) have on our business and have therefore developed a strategy to improve employee mental wellbeing.

We have enhanced our stress workshop for managers, so that it now addresses the broader topic of mental health. In 2011, a total of 331 managers attended these workshops, which are delivered by the OHW team. As a result, attendees now have a better understanding of CMHP, can recognise if any of their team are experiencing such problems and know how important their own behaviour can be in preventing them. Our innovative study in two of our North East contact centres is nearing completion and we hope to have the results by mid 2012. It is assessing the benefits (both to the employee and to the business) of improving understanding of mental health issues and making available specialised counselling.

General wellbeing

In 2011, wellbeing roadshows were held at 19 locations across the company. These interactive sessions have covered topics such as well woman/well man, alcohol awareness, healthy eating and sexual health.

We continue to encourage our employees to undertake physical activity on a regular basis and, internally, have publicised the Government’s new guidelines for weekly exercise. Opportunities for exercise during the working day vary across our locations, but include on-site gyms, walking and running clubs.

We held our fourth RWE npower Games in the summer, with individuals and teams from a large number of our sites taking part. The number of employees registered was nearly 1,000 – an increase on the previous year. We used the Games to promote a healthy lifestyle with an Occupational Health and Wellbeing tent on site. Visitors were able to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked and learn about healthy eating and safe drinking. We estimate that at least 400 participants in the Games visited the tent.

We have continued our role in supporting the Workwell campaign, run by Business in the Community, as this highlights the business benefits of improved health at work.