Health and Wellbeing in British Gas

Steve Britton, HR Business PartnerSarah Coop, Head of Health & Wellbeing 4th November 2010

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Agenda

• Background of concept

• Creating a business wide agenda

• Our wellbeing strategy

• Key themes

• Landing the agenda

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We needed to become more proactive when managing attendance

• At the end of 2008, absence was an issue:– Over 12 days per fte– c30 people off long term sick every week

• Majority of LTS had Stress / Depressive issues, followed by MSD• Needed to become proactive• Individual initiatives – GCC• W.H.O. identified 5 key drivers for wellbeing:

– Physical– Psychological– Social– Financial– Environmental

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We created a brand that would enable people to identify with the concept

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We gained momentum by holding events every week linked to different elements

• Health checks – supported by Boots and a local gym.

– BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure and spinal checks

• Social activities including 5-a-side football events and Summer/Christmas parties

• Emotional resilience seminars

• Financial advisors

• Bike to work schemes

• Trialling MyFamily Care

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Smile contributed to improvements on our business performance

• Employee Engagement up from 57% to 74%.

• ‘Best Companies’ survey Premier had highest result for wellbeing out of the Top 10 Big Companies at 72%.

• Net Promoter Score now +45 vs -11 in 2008

• Attrition had a 64% improvement now below 15%

• Long term sick cases – consistently in single figures

“I think it’s fantastic that the business provides

such help and support for all”

“This is an excellent initiative, particularly when staff may not be conscious about their own health”

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Creating a business wide proactive health and wellbeing agenda

• Establish a burning platform– Visibility of current issues– Awareness of emerging issues – Link to business strategy

• Engagement– Business units (using best practice)– Multi-discipline approach – Making it accessible and easy to participate

• Organisation design – OH transitioned into brand – Established wellbeing team– Growth of wellbeing champion network– H&WB reports into HRD for British Gas

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Strong foundation underpinned by British Gas HR Strategy

Leading health & wellbeing performance

BeWellGetting the best out of life and Work

Healthy workplace climateAccess to lifestyle choicesIndividual, team andOrganisational learning

GetWellGetting our people back on their feet

Specialist supportOccupational HealthCapability vs disability

StayWellSafe & healthy working environment

Health risk assessmentsSurveillance programmesTravel HealthFit for purpose

Health & Wellbeing strategy

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Themes impacting organisational health, wellbeing and performance

EAP Provision

E-learning stress awareness training

Line Manager trainingand support

Physio interventions

Back and knee careWorkshops

Driver postureawareness

Healthy Eating options

Nutrition advice

Physical activityprogrammes

Flexible working

Physical activity Programmes

MusculoskeletalMental Health Obesity Late Age Working

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BeWell

Smile Brand developmentLearning and developmentPromotion & awareness

WellbeingCultureDiagnosticCurrent dataWorkshops

Boots PartnershipHealth assessmentsEyecareAdditional Services

WellbeingChampionNetworkMulti-disciplineRecognition

InsightThe health of Our WorldEmerging issuesTargeted investment

“Partnering with the business to deliver performance and excellence for our customers through and with our people”

StayWell

GetWell

Activities to support strategy

OHSpecialist nursingadviceSegmented ‘at work’ and ‘absent’

EAPProvision for employees and family

InterventionsContracts to provideinterventions for MSD

Mental HealthAwareness programmes

Learning & developmentBehaviour change models

Health SurveillanceHealth benchmarkingand ongoingsurveillance activities

Travel healthOffshore travel

Risk assessmentsSafety critical rolesWork placeassessments

Pre-employmentAssessmentse.g. eye tests, mental health assessments

Safety criticalDriver safety Awareness and promotion

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Landing the agenda

• Proactive wellbeing agenda critical to support organisational success

• Requires visible top down commitment and participation across the business

• Creating a programme that is simple, fun and accessible gives traction for delivery

• Key performance indicators to support outcomes

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Any Questions

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Bio

• Steve Britton, HR Business Partner– Joined British Gas 3 years ago, having a track record

of similar HR roles at DSGi, ScottishPower and Thorn EMI spanning 17 years.

– Leading the HR and recruitment team in the customer service centre based in Cardiff

– Recently completed Masters Degree in Strategic Human Resources focusing on organisational culture

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Biog

• Sarah has been with British Gas for over 20 years, and has a background in Operational leadership, having been responsible for large onshore and offshore operations.

• Sarah has a passion for the health and wellbeing agenda in the business, and delivering performance through well, engaged employees.