Employers rewarded for promoting health at work

Shetland employers were rewarded for promoting health at work when the Healthy Working Lives Awards were presented to local organisations at a ceremony in the town hall today.

Healthy Working Lives is a national initiative to give practical support and advice to employers, and it runs the awards programme to recognise their achievements.

At the ceremony, NHS Shetland director of public health Sarah Taylor emphasised the importance of promoting health at work both morally and financially. It is estimated that 2.2 million working days are lost annually in Scotland through ill health, at a cost of £ 1.2 billion to employers.

The awards were presented by Arthur Spence, manager at Sullom Voe terminal, which has held the gold award for four years.

This year NHS Shetland achieved the gold award, only the second NHS Board in Scotland to do so.

Voluntary Action Shetland also achieved the gold level, as well as receiving recognition for maintaining the Mental Health Commendation award for three years.  

Shetland Islands Council achieved the bronze level award.

A council spokesman said: “The award is the result of hard work by the council’s healthy working lives steering group, which involved input from staff in all departments. Healthy lifestyle schemes, promoted through a quarterly newsletter, included physical activity classes, such as box-fit and Pilates, back care promotions and weight management classes.”

SIC human resources adviser Marie Gordon said: “I’m really delighted that we’ve got the award. It recognises the hard work of all those involved in the process, and acknowledges the value the council puts on initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of employees.”