As I sat down to write this, I was listening to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 talking about the new sugar tax, which came into force on 6 April.
I was also reminded earlier in the day that it is the start of the new financial year. That made me think about the importance of the health of your company: Financially, legally, and also your staff. Get all three elements right and it will increase your chances of getting your business on a strong footing; get one or more wrong and you might be building up trouble for yourself.
I always think that the start of the financial year is a good opportunity to take stock of your business. Is everything in order? Are we paying the right tax? Have we picked up on the changes to personal allowances this year? Is our O-Licence up to date? Have we notified the Traffic Commissioner of the recent change to our Transport Manager? Did I get around to deregistering that school bus service I was operating last year? Am I really on top of the expenditure and income of my business?
Simple steps
So why should you worry about the health of your staff? Is it any of your business what they do outside of the time they work for you?
This is what ACAS has to say about the subject:
“Employers have a duty of care to their employees, which means that they should take all steps which are reasonably possible to ensure their health, safety and wellbeing. Demonstrating concern for the physical and mental health of your workers shouldn't just be seen as a legal duty – there's a clear business case, too. It can be a key factor in building trust and reinforcing your commitment to your employees, and can help improve staff retention, boost productivity and pave the way for greater employee engagement.”
So, what can you do? Do you promote healthy eating, by providing an area where employees can prepare fresh food rather than relying on the local chippy? Is there a bowl of fruit in the drivers’ rest room, rather than a chocolate vending machine?
One of my ex colleagues at TfL, Luke Howard, always brought a bag of apples into the office each day; one for himself and the others were put in a bowl on a cabinet for the team to help themselves.
And what about exercise? Have you asked your local gym to offer a discount to your staff if you display its posters on your premises?
On the run
A personal favourite of mine is the parkrun on a Saturday morning. It is a completely free 5km run for all abilities.
Before 2012 I had done very little running at all and was very unfit. My first run was very painful, but I have now completed over 150.
I am not saying this to show off or to specifically promote parkrun, but to give an example of how you can promote something to the benefit of your staff.
Running will not suit everyone but there are other forms of exercise (cycling or playing golf, for example), which you could advertise or even organise.
Who knows, it might just make a difference to an employee, which benefits them in being fitter and also benefits you in having to find less cover for sickness.
