Oldham tech outfit launches new ‘Wellness Wednesday’ programme to support employees

An Oldham technology firm has launched a brand new wellness scheme to better support their employees with their mental and physical health.

The wellness initiative encourages staff at Aspect IT to engage in healthy behaviours over an extended amount of time, with the intention of these new behaviours becoming habits to their employees. 

The employee experience is integral to business success, and prioritising the well-being of staff has never been more important.

According to the Health and Safety Executive’s report on work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, 822,000 workers experienced work-related stress in 2020/2021, a much higher figure than pre-coronavirus statistics.

We are a stressed nation, and without prioritising employee wellness, organisations are facing higher absenteeism and presenteeism rates, impacting productivity and company morale.

Since the pandemic, there has been a real buzz around wellness and the importance of looking after oneself.

This has resulted in higher standards of care for employees, leading to many people leaving their jobs because they didn’t feel valued, and many companies struggling to fill vacancies because they aren’t putting their employee’s well-being at the centre of what they do.

The employee wellness scheme has been developed and led by Director, Peter Dorotiak, with the support of their Marketing Executive, Hannah Dooley.

Aspect IT, who are in their 19th year of business, kicked off their programme with a step competition, encouraging staff to be more active both within and outside the office.

The individuals that took the most steps over a month were rewarded with a health-related gift.

As well as this, they have swapped out all unhealthy snacks for nutritious alternatives to boost concentration and energy levels.

They have also made extra efforts to ensure their employees feel valued within the company, by supporting their growth and development through upskilling courses.

In the future, they are organising workshops surrounding various topics such as mental health, stress and nutrition to help support the scheme.

They are also planning employee appreciation days to ensure their employees feel valued within the company, including workplace massages and self-care boxes.

Aspect IT saw a jump in employee engagement, and after conducting an internal survey, they found that 60% of employees feel happier and valued in their roles and will continue to expand their wellness strategy for the benefit of their employees.

Aside from improved employee retention rates, implementing employee wellness initiatives boast other huge business benefits, such as improved productivity rates, decreased absence rates, improved company morale and higher employee retention rates.

Founded in 2003 by directors Peter and Ian, Aspect IT provide fully managed IT solutions that fit your business requirements.

With nearly 20 years of experience, they offer everything from networking to computer maintenance and repairs, software development to web design, and VoIP services to cybersecurity.

Marketing Executive Ms Dooley said: “Having experienced mental health issues throughout my life, I understand the importance of workplace support when it comes to wellbeing.

"If employees feel healthier (both mentally and physically) and supported, they are more likely to be happier and feel empowered to perform at their best.

“We’ve definitely/already seen a positive difference in our office morale and productivity levels.

"The wellbeing of our staff has always been of upmost importance to Aspect IT, but we’ve really decided to make this a priority this year and introduce some solid plans to actively support the team."

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