Ensuring employees are healthy and happy at work is at the heart of the Council’s refreshed wellbeing strategy.

Approved by the Executive in October, the strategy builds on the feedback from over 800 people who completed the Employee Wellbeing Survey.

Over the next three years a series of education and training initiatives will be rolled out to bring the strategy to life, putting in place support and advice to help strengthen employees’ mental and physical health.

Karen Algie, Head of People, Technology & Transformation, said: “As a council we wouldn’t be able to provide vital services to our communities without the dedication and hard work of our employees. That is why we need to ensure the right support is in place to empower and enable people to make healthy choices to safeguard their wellbeing - and that is what the strategy aims to do.”

By taking a holistic view of wellbeing, the strategy addresses what needs to be done to improve employee wellbeing while also creating an environment that people enjoy working in through:

Promotion of physical activity

• Increase employee awareness of recommended levels of physical activity
• Improving facilities at council buildings to make it easier for staff to be physically active
• Appoint two physical activity champions

Encouraging healthy eating

• Work will be undertaken to ensure meal plans in canteens and food and drink offered in vending machines is healthy and varied
• Ensure the Strategic Property Review considers the provision of food preparation areas in new Council buildings and major refurbishments

Supporting mental wellbeing

• In conjunction with See Me Scotland, an employee mental health check will be undertaken to help improve how the Council tackles the stigma associated with mental health in the workplace
• The Employee Counselling Service will be reinstated (including a 24/7 helpline and face-to-face counselling)
• 100 mental health first aiders will be trained across the Council
• Training will be given to improve managers’ understanding of mental health and wellbeing

Creating smoke free zones

• Signage will be installed to highlight all council premises and grounds are smoke free zones
• Work undertaken with the NHS to help employees kick the habit

Creation of a Wellbeing Group

• To ensure the implementation of the strategy across the Council
• Comprising:
  • Chief Executive
  • Head of People, Technology & Transformation
  • Representatives from each Service and Trades Unions
  • Two physical activity champions

If you have any questions relating to the wellbeing strategy - or would like further information - please email wellbeing@falkirk.gov.uk.