Harborough District Council has signed the Workplace Wellbeing Charter to promote health and wellbeing based on the needs and values of its 208 employees.
The Leicestershire local authority said it was looking to build on a number of initiatives already in place to support the wellbeing of its workers. Senior leaders believe the charter will help to highlight the importance of supporting council staff with long-term health conditions while also encouraging a workforce culture that values wellbeing.
Independent charity Health@Work Consultancy Services manages the charter and is its only licensed provider. The charity has accredited more than 1,000 workplaces of varying size and employee numbers so far.
Available for all public, private and voluntary sector organisations in the UK, the charter is segmented into eight topics that guide employers on support workplace wellbeing in areas such as healthy eating, mental health and smoking.
Accreditation involves a self-assessment process as well as an on-site visit, where auditors conduct interviews and assess the organisation. Accreditation lasts for two years and allows employers access to a range of free resources covering everything from mental health to physical activity.
Two levels of accreditation are offered – the pledge and the award – reflecting efforts to support employee health and wellbeing starting at the most basic level, according to the charity. A post-assessment report gives accredited employers detailed feedback on their strengths and areas they can improve in.
Councillor Simon Whelband, Harborough District Council’s cabinet lead on wellbeing and communities, signed the pledge on behalf of the council.
“We believe that physical and mental wellbeing is really important and our Active Together team works hard with our community to promote this message and support our staff to stay fit and healthy,” he said. “This has been especially important during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, with a renewed appetite for physical, social and mental wellbeing.”