Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Health and safetyLatest NewsWellbeingOccupational Health

Businesses make commitment to improving employee health

by Personnel Today 5 Oct 2011
by Personnel Today 5 Oct 2011

A raft of leading employers have signed up to a government-backed campaign to encourage workers to lead healthier lifestyles.

Food and drink firms Typhoo and McCain, and utility company Centrica, which between them employ more than 35,000 people, joined the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal in September, which is working with business and charities to make changes to help improve the health of the population.

The three firms will be helping employees quit smoking by providing workplace stop-smoking services and allowing them to go to appointments during working hours without losing any pay.

At the same time, the Co-operative Group has pledged to encourage more people to increase their levels of physical activity.

Since its launch in March, 285 organisations have signed up to the Public Health Responsibility Deal, which is also encouraging companies to get staff to use tools such as NHS Lifecheck and to take part in more formal screening programmes.

In a separate development, but also as part of the Government’s Responsibility Deal, in September, fast-food chain McDonald’s said it would be introducing calorie information on its menus in all of its 1,200 UK restaurants, announced the Department of Health.

Other restaurant chains, such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger and JD Wetherspoon, have all pledged to take a similar approach.

The Co-operative Group, working in association with sports camp provider Activate Sport, has said that by 2012 it will reach 20,000 young people through sports camps and double the number of camps to 500 across the UK.

The Responsibility Deal is designed to use the existing skills of businesses to improve public health and tackle health inequalities through their influence over food, alcohol, physical activity and health in the workplace.

On top of this, over the summer, the Department of Health published a series of guides for employees and line managers to help people with long-term health conditions.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Health minister Lord Howe said: “We spend a big chunk of our lives at work so it makes sense that employers look after us as best they can. And it’s good business for them to have a healthy and happy workforce.”

The Department of Health has also launched a free online health support service for veterans, serving personnel and their families. The Big White Wall will offer 24-hour access to trained counsellors.

Personnel Today

previous post
Stress now top cause of long-term sickness absence
next post
NHS may struggle to meet SEQOHS targets

You may also like

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

How neuroscience can unlock employee recognition

22 May 2025

UK universities fret over fall in international students

22 May 2025

HSBC employees warned of office attendance link to...

22 May 2025

The Law Society: Navigating the new world of...

22 May 2025

Workplace stress: Why it’s time to rebrand resilience

22 May 2025

Restaurant tips should be included in holiday pay

21 May 2025

Fewer workers would comply with a return-to-office mandate

21 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today