“EMPLOYEE WELLNESS” BY MRS. PATRICIA KERRETTS-KEMEI, MANAGER/TALENT & ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OF KENYA (CCK) AFRALTI HCD Forum - February,2014, Lilongwe, Malawi

Employee Wellness Healthy Employees, Healthy Bottom Line. What is wellness and why is it important? Profile of Unhealthy Employee Chronic disease and risk factors Keys to a successful wellness program CCKs Employee Wellness Initiatives 2

1. Introduction 3 Wellness “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal” (Merriam Webster Inc.)

2. Profile of Unhealthy Employee 48 year old male Works in County Assembly of Nairobi Tobacco and alcohol use Unhealthy diet Physical inactivity High stress job and family responsibility Height 6’1 and weighs 120 kgs 4

3. Chronic Disease & Risk Factors Obesity - >30%, $ 13 billion & lost productivity. At higher risk – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, Inactivity - >$24 billion a year. Activity is more effective in reducing cardiovascular risk than weight loss (statistics –Health Advocate Inc,) 5

Risk Factors cont… Smoking – 1 in 5 deaths; >1pack/day smokers have 75% /higher rate of lost production time than non-smokers Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Abseentism is 2- 3 times higher in alcohol users Sleep Apnea – highly related to obesity Chronic Disease – diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, asthma 6

Stress and Depression Increase health care costs more than obesity, smoking or high blood pressure combines Accounts for 20% of absenteeism and turnover Costs $300 billion/per year 7

4. Prevention to control Health Care Costs Encourage regular check ups – screening to detect early disease Offer Wellness Programmes to modify lifestyles Reinforce benefits of prevention and healthy lifestyles 8

Evolution of Wellness Programmes Traditional Programmes New wave of Wellness Component Tobacco cessation Exercise / Fitness Weight loss Stress Management “E-Health” options / customized online health information Personal health records – reduces redundancy /healthcare costs Personal wellness coaching – improves chance of reaching health goals 9

5. CCKs Initiatives on Employee Wellness Medical scheme for all staff – non discriminatory and all inclusive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – provides access to Workplace Counselors and out-sourced Psychiatric Doctors Prayer Room Physical Fitness Gym within the workplace and Jogging Track. 10

CCKs initiatives cont… Sporting Activities: Corporate member of KECOSO Games with employees in competing teams of – Pool, Snooker, Scrabble, Golf, Athletics, Field events, Darts, Athletics 11

CCKs initiatives cont… Team Building carried out every year for staff; Family fun day; End year Party 12

CCK initiatives cont… Flexi hours for lactating/breast feeding mothers. Maternity/Paternity leave. Staff canteen: - employee welfare Soft music played in the public address system in the office– soothes the mind. 13

CCKs initiatives cont… Insurance – workman's compensation act Grieving policy – compassionate leave CSR activities – employees participate in giving and reaching out to the less fortunate; Mater Heart Run; Training and Awareness: Stress & Financial Management; Drugs & Substance Abuse; HIV/Aids, 14

CCKs initiatives cont… HIV/Aids Peer Educators in an open day wellness challenge programme 15

Be well, live well, serve well 16

“ The greatest glory in living lies not in not falling, but rising every time you fall” 17

Thank You for your Attention ASANTE SANA 18