Homerton healthcare for happier employees

Workplace health is an issue we take seriously at Coca-Cola. We've introduced a number of schemes, including Cycle to Work and flexible working hours, to encourage our employees to live active, healthy lifestyles as part of our broader Great Place to Work initiative.

As well as focusing on our in house programme, we're also working in partnership to promote and support health and wellness with the staff at Homerton University Hospital in East London. The bespoke 'Healthworks at Homerton' programme, a programme of information, health checks and physical activity initiatives that staff can access within their working environment, began in January 2010.

Did you know? Homerton Hospital has been designated a 2012 hospital for the Olympic Games

Central to the success of the scheme is the on-site programme coordinator, Shani Anderson. A former Olympian, Shani is critical to providing motivation as well as coordinating practical opportunities. Here she discusses Coca-Cola's role in this partnership:

Q: Why is it important that companies like Coca-Cola demonstrate responsibility on aspects such as health and fitness?
Shani: Having a high-profile company like Coca-Cola encourage health in the workplace sets an example that can be followed by others. Workplace health is an urgent agenda for the government, and companies can help offer the funding to make this a reality. Without those funds these projects might not live up to their potential. If you work in the health sector, such at a hospital, it is essential employees reflect the healthy message, too. That requires education and resources.

Q: How is Coca-Cola useful for this?
Shani: Coca-Cola has products that people identify with health and fitness. As an athlete I drank Powerade for years without realising it was from their stable. Household brands help build rapport with people, through which to communicate a health message.

Q: Sounds great, but there's a difference between talk and action when companies make promises. Has the centre made a real difference?
Shani: You're right. There's a big difference between talk and action. The difference is how a company follows up on its promise. Coca-Cola's presence at Homerton Hospital was subtle. It wasn't announcing its presence with branding. It held focus groups to see what people wanted out of a health project. Employees were free to raise concerns and requests, such as the difficulty of fitting health and fitness regimes around shifts, or that they might want a pilates class. Coca-Cola listened and came up with solutions. Just the act of listening helped improve morale.

Q: So what change have you seen so far?
Shani: So far we've brought in classes for everyone's fitness needs, things like pilates, tai chi breathing exercises, meditation and Nordic power walking. On our opening we gave employees free membership to a gym for three weeks. Those who went four times or more were given another six weeks' free membership. I'm on hand as a health and fitness adviser, too.

Q: In your view, what demands on health do people face in the workplace?
Shani: Work and lifestyle have always made demands on health. One modern challenge is how things like sitting at computers are making people's lives more sedentary and forcing them away from the outdoors. Also, unsociable working hours and the easy availability of fast food mean you're more likely to make bad diet choices. Habits like this need to be reversed.

Q: Why is it important to bring fitness initiatives to the workplace?
Shani: Health needs to be promoted at work, as it is in other countries. In Asia, workers at some companies do tai chi routines in the morning, which gets everyone in sync and gives people more energy. Things like this really help. We spend a lot of time at work so it's important to sow the messages there. All the statistics say the health of our nation is in danger, there's more risk of obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. This puts pressure on the NHS and resources like those at Homerton Hospital.

Q: What can people learn from an Olympian, such as yourself, in terms of a personal approach to health?
Shani: I ask people to list their values. If health is lower than third on the list, they are going to struggle to make it better as other things will always get in the way. They need to rethink their approach. One sure thing: you value health most when you lose it. You won't ever be in a position to fully appreciate all the other things in your life without your health.

Q: But what if you're under a lot of pressure and life gets in the way, as busy mum or a commuter?
Shani: It's all in the planning. For example, if you're prone to grabbing takeaways because you don't have time to make a proper meal, do a mass cook at the beginning of the week and put the food in containers to freeze. If you're a busy mum, push the pram around the park while walking quickly, as a mini workout. That's the kind of advice we teach at the centre.

Q: What health risks are currently facing workers, and what can they do?
Shani: One of the biggest risks is bad posture, caused by sitting at desks too long. It's estimated that back problems are likely to hit 70 per cent of the workforce. The problem is that people aren't using their back muscles enough. We teach people at the centre how to avoid this - we suggest people get up from their desk every 40 minutes and walk around.

Q: What is the one big thing that anyone can do to improve their all-round health?
Shani: It's not the same for everyone. So the best thing is to take one thing that could improve your health today and commit to it. Whether it's drinking enough fluids (2.5 litres a day), eating your five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, or getting off the bus one stop early and walking to your destination. The crucial thing is whatever you decide to do, it has to be fun for you.

Q: What effect on people's health have you seen as a result of the project?
Shani: For starters, seeing people have more energy to do the things they need to do. The best thing is the physical difference. One man has lost 25 pounds in three months. He looks completely different. There are a few ladies who are now so into fitness their gym gear doesn't fit them anymore. If they complain, it's the kind of complaining you want to hear.

* Health And Safety Executive (2009), health and safety statistics 2008/2009

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