Transforming workplace health - the impact of Work Well Live Well program in 2023-24

In an era where employee health is recognised as a cornerstone of productivity and workplace satisfaction, the Work Well Live Well program has positioned itself as a critical resource for organisations in Northern Ireland.

Health@Work NI, one of Developing Healthy Communities’ longest-standing projects, spearheads this program in the Western Trust area, driving meaningful change for workplaces and employees alike.

Funded by the Public Health Agency, the Work Well Live Well program aims to address health disparities by focusing on workplaces where inequalities are most prevalent, targeting environments with high proportions of low-paid, manual, sedentary, male, and migrant workers.

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The program’s reach and impact over 2023-24 have been remarkable. This past year, Health@Work NI recruited 45 new workplaces into the program, trained 30 Workplace Health Champions, and provided consultancy to 15 workplaces to support the development of tailored health and wellbeing action plans.

Through these initiatives, Health@Work NI empowers organisations to identify and tackle their unique health challenges, allowing them to create actionable, sustainable plans for long-term employee wellbeing. By involving Workplace Health Champions—employees trained to lead health initiatives—these organisations are building an internal culture that values and actively supports health.

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Partnerships are integral to the success of Work Well Live Well, and Health@Work NI has collaborated with notable organisations such as the Western Health and Social Care Trust, Aware, and the Health and Safety Executive for NI. These partnerships facilitate the delivery of targeted health initiatives, training, and awareness campaigns.

Over the past year, Health@Work NI organized sessions on critical topics such as Managing Mental Health, Grief in the Workplace, Cancer Awareness, Physical Activity, and Stress Awareness. These sessions reached 181 participants, providing them with valuable knowledge and skills to manage mental and physical health challenges both in and outside of work.

For workplaces, addressing mental health is just as vital as physical health. In response to this, 30 employees completed online Mental Health First Aid training through the program, enabling them to provide initial support to colleagues facing mental health issues.

Training sessions also covered Menopause Awareness, Financial Wellbeing, Burnout, and Stress Management Standards, equipping employees with a holistic understanding of the factors influencing their health. Network learning events organised by Health@Work NI provide workplaces with access to continuous professional development, fostering a community where knowledge and best practices are shared.

Employee health checks have also become an essential part of the Work Well Live Well program. This year, Health@Work NI supported 18 workplaces across the Western Trust region in conducting these checks, reaching 523 employees.

The checks provide employees with crucial information on their health status and guidance on lifestyle adjustments, following WHO’s recommendation for workplace health interventions. These checks are designed to promote individual health accountability, giving employees the knowledge they need to make proactive lifestyle changes.

By championing workplace health and fostering partnerships across the region, Health@Work NI’s Work Well Live Well program is making strides in transforming workplace wellbeing. As the program expands its reach, it continues to demonstrate that workplace health initiatives can drive meaningful change, creating more resilient and inclusive work environments across Northern Ireland.