Workers Compensation Solutions general manager Kristine Gatt spoke about the timely issue of the ageing workforce in Australia at the South East Business Networks industry breakfast on Wednesday morning. 56360
By Bridget Cook
HEALTHY workers mean a healthy business.
That was the message at the South East Business Networks Industry Breakfast on Wednesday morning, themed ‘How to Improve Your Company’s Health, Wealth and Well Being’.
Four guest speakers addressed the room and offered tips for employers to help support and improve the health and well-being of their workplace.
Tim McLean, from WorkHealth, spoke of the success and the results of the work health checks, which 16,000 workplaces in Victoria have already taken part in.
Mr McLean said some of the results were quite alarming, with 30 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women having a high risk of getting type-two diabetes.
He said 16 per cent of workers had a high risk of both type-two diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with many believing they were in good health.
Mr McLean encouraged workplaces to invest in health and well-being for a number of reasons. He said it would result in a healthier and happier workplace, energised and engaged staff, improve productivity and reduce absenteeism.
“It’s about having healthy and energised staff, as well as attracting talented staff and maintaining talented staff,” he said.
Toyota Australia occupation health and safety corporate manager Richard Dovison shared his story of a workplace which has developed a health and well-being program.
Mr Dovison said after their workplace took part in the WorkHealth health checks, the developed the program for a number of reasons.
He said their were many benefits of the program.
“We now have an excellent indicative data regarding the health issues of our employees,” he said.
“The employees are also much more aware of their own health status.”
Workers Compensation Solutions general manager Kristine Gatt spoke about the timely issue of the ageing workforce in Australia.
She said there were more people over the age of 65 in the economy than ever before, and there were fewer younger people coming through.
She also said the migration rate was steady, and there were not a lot of skilled workers coming through.
She said between 2002 and 2012, 85 per cent of workers will be over 45 years old.
“This requires a different management approach,” Ms Gatt said.
Sally Kane, Agilent Technologies environment, health and safety manager, shared her example of how they deal with an ageing workplace.
Almost 75 per cent of the business’s employees are over the age of 40.
“It’s wonderful for us to have such knowledgeable and mentoring staff, but an issue for us in regards to health and wellbeing,” she said.
