Johnson & Johnson, Adidas UK and Wellness International have been named as the healthiest companies in the UK when it comes to employees’ wellbeing and corporate productivity.
This annual awards are made as part of Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace study. The healthcare company, sports apparel manufacturer and health and wellbeing provider were awarded first place in the large, medium and small-sized company divisions, respectively.
This study is developed with Vitality in conjunction with Rand Europe, Mercer Marsh Benefits, the University of Cambridge and the Financial Times.
It examines the link between employee health and lifestyle choices, the work environment, and business outcomes such as productivity and engagement.
The study providers one of the largest datasets on organisational performance and wellbeing. Now in its seventh year, the study scores employee health based on factors including physical activity, nutrition and smoking habits. These scores are then combined with the efforts from leadership on fostering a wellbeing culture and use of workplace wellness interventions, facilities and services.
This is the seventh consecutive year that Adidas has earned first place in the medium-sized category and the second time Wellness International Ltd has been named number one in the small classification. Johnson & Johnson is named healthiest large workplace this year, having previously won in 2015. Last year’s large-sized company winner Nomura International came second this year.
Vitality chief executive Neville Koopowitz says: “[This] study provides a perspective into how employers can directly influence their employees’ health and wellbeing.
“The study shows how a well-structured and comprehensive workplace wellness programme can lead to improved business performance. Employees’ poor lifestyles not only impact on their own health, but their companies are exposed to lost productivity and increased costs.
“When employers prioritise their employees’ health and wellbeing and provide accessible wellness interventions they not only boost business performance, but ultimately contribute to their employees overall health, and in turn support society as a whole.”
Mercer Marsh Benefits partner Chris Bailey adds: “One of the biggest barriers to creating healthy workplaces is leadership commitment. Participating in Britain’s Healthiest Workplace is an easy first step in a robust evaluation of the health of an organisation.
“Although the findings can uncover some uncomfortable truths it is the organisations and leaders who face these that see continued returns. Those organisations that started engaging with their workforce on health seven years ago now lead the way in organisational wellbeing.”
