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Maximising the Value of Occupational Health & Safety and Workplace Wellness Reporting for a Global Workforce: a Practical

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Maximising the Value of Occupational Health & Safety and Workplace Wellness Reporting for a Global Workforce: a Practical Maximising the value of Occupational Health & Safety and workplace wellness reporting for a global workforce: A practical guide for internationally operating employers London|Washington D.C. Commissioned by the Maximising the value of Occupational Health & Safety and workplace wellness reporting for a global workforce: A practical guide for internationally operating employers London|Washington D.C. Commissioned by the Contents i Foreword 3 4.2.3 The difficulty of developing cross-border health and wellness programmes 28 ii Executive summary 5 4.2.4 The difficulty of changing behaviours 28 1. Introduction 9 4.2.5 Current reporting frameworks are inadequate 28 2. The value of good sustainability reporting 10 4.2.6 The difficulty of developing relevant, 2.1 Sustainability reporting 11 insightful wellness metrics 28 2.1.1 What is sustainability reporting? 11 4.3 Best practice company characteristics 29 2.1.2 A progressive mainstreaming 5. Case studies: Best practices in OH&S of sustainability reporting 11 and risk management reporting—and 2.1.3 Benefits of sustainability reporting 12 how to get the most from them. 30 2.2 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) reporting 12 5.1 Integrating health and wellness into an overarching corporate strategy: UNILEVER 31 2.2.1 Trends in Occupational Health & Safety practice and reporting 12 5.2 Measuring activities and progress against specified targets: JOHNSON & JOHNSON 31 3. Guide: How to do OH&S reporting well 14 5.3 Collaborating with multiple stakeholders: 3.1 Foundational elements of good reporting 15 NOVO NORDISK 31 3.2 Using global reporting frameworks 17 6. Conclusion 35 3.2.1 Sustainability reporting frameworks: 7. APPENDIX 37 Strengths and weaknesses 17 3.2.2 Global reporting frameworks: Comparison of requirements 17 3.2.3 Key observations on reporting frameworks: Trends and gaps 19 3.3 The future of OH&S performance metrics 22 3.3.1 An introduction to wellness metrics 22 4. Views and voices: Analysis, experiences and reflections on the future from experts and practitioners. 26 4.1 Observations 27 4.1.1 OH&S has been too narrow in identifying drivers of health in the workplace 27 4.1.2 Mental health has been particularly conspicuous in its absence 27 4.1.3 There is an economic case for programmes around health and wellness 27 4.1.4 Workplace health has been absent from the agenda of international organisations 27 4.1.5 Whilst some companies are driving innovative practice around employee health, others are awaiting external guidance 27 4.2 Challenges faced by organisations 28 4.2.1 Delineating the responsibility of business 28 4.2.2 SMEs and health and wellness programmes 28 Foreword Occupational Health & Safety is now everyone’s business. Foreword Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) This paper sets out to demonstrate the It should achieve this while at the is no longer limited to individuals value of the emerging global OH&S same time, empower local and who work in physically demanding agenda linked to business sustainability, regional offices to implement culturally jobs, neither is it exclusively focused and to show where sustainability relevant programmes at the local level. on industrial related diseases and reporting can be improved to better exposures. Additionally, there has been reflect this agenda more accurately. We In developing this paper, we turned to a shift in our understanding of what uncovered six hallmarks of best practice some of the most inspiring examples constitutes meaningful metrics, leaning which we believe all businesses of innovative OH&S reporting and away from indicators that are backwards- and their employees can strive to management practice in place today. looking and incident-focused. Our implement, and therefore reap the We are grateful to Anglo American, understanding of OH&S has traditionally benefits. These include: Heineken, Lafarge Holcim, Vitality and considered only workers’ bodies, not Newmont for their support of this project their minds. 1. Senior executive engagement with and sharing their expertise. the health and wellness agenda. In recent years, the business sector We believe business leaders who The breadth, depth and expertise has come to understand and value a far grasp that health and wellness collected provides an overarching view broader notion of well-being—physical, improves productivity, retention and of what pioneering organisations are social, mental and financial—at the heart morale will enhance their company’s doing within the OH&S and wellness of people’s relationship with work. In long-term value. field through a sustainability lens, and short, the changing face of OH&S reflects 2. Health and wellness as a holistic are worth reading in full. a fundamental shift in understanding of its concept. Our research shows that value to business strategy and success. narrowly focused, vertical programmes We recognise that sustainability reporting It is therefore a material consideration for that exist in silos and address isolated is a dynamic and evolving field and sustainability reporting. OH&S topics deliver far less value than therefore we present a mere snapshot those that adopt holistic population and in time. We hope this collection of case In general terms, a sustainability report individual based approaches to health. studies and knowledge will provide provides an overview of a company’s 3. Creating an enabling environment. readers with a broader understanding strategy, and the economic, social and Making changes involves hearts of the value of OH&S and workplace environmental factors that influence it— and minds, which in turn lead to wellness reporting and may be used as both in terms of risk and opportunity. It is a behaviours. It may be necessary a practical guide for employers across tool that can demonstrate the robustness to alter the policy as well as physical the globe. of the company’s management (for environment. investors or regulators), and also provides 4. Reaching out to engage all We welcome your feedback and a platform for coordinating action within employees. While the earliest success challenges, and look forward to continuing a company to achieve its strategic in wellness programmes may come this dialogue in the future. objectives. In most cases, the largest from the most motivated and aware audience for a sustainability report is the individuals in a team, efforts must not Linda Kromjong, company’s own employees. stop with them. Companies that are Secretary-General taking a more comprehensive and International Organisation In today’s knowledge-driven economy, planned approach to workplace health of Employers (IOE) people are the most important asset for have seen productivity gains and companies to thrive. Ensuring employees reductions in associated healthcare Kathy A. Seabrook, are not only physically fit to work, but costs for workers. CSP, CFIOSH, EurOHSM, empowered, motivated and supported to 5. Metrics help you ask the right Founder and President of do their jobs, can often be the difference questions. Measurements and Global Solutions, Inc. between success and failure. Today, non- indicators must be critically analysed communicable diseases (NCDs) such as to uncover the drivers behind a Judy Kuszewski, heart disease and mental health present company’s performance. Chief Executive a rapidly growing challenge layered into 6. Health and wellness programmes Sancroft International existing, traditional OH&S risks such as should reach across borders and chemical exposure or working at elevated cultures. A company’s responsibility Rodrigo Rodriguez-Fernandez, altitudes. As one of our interviewees is to set the global values and company Medical Director put it: “You can’t have a safe business best practice when it comes to health International SOS Foundation without healthy people.” and wellness programmes. 3 4 Executive summary This paper seeks to provide Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), sustainability and Executive Summary corporate reporting professionals with practical guidance on improving OH&S reporting and practice. It was informed by interviews with leading multinational organisations, alongside engagement with leaders in the field and analysis of publicly available information. We have developed this guidance The value of good • Recognition by a larger number against the backdrop of an evolving sustainability reporting of companies that employee OH&S field, and a growing recognition We begin with an introduction to health is intimately tied to of the need for a more holistic sustainability reporting, defined community health; approach to health. This approach as an organisation’s practice of • Better understanding of the includes multiple dimensions of reporting publicly on its economic, economic burden of non- well-being (physical, mental, financial, environmental, and/or social impacts, communicable diseases (NCDs), and social) and a reframing of the and hence its contributions—positive and hence the business benefits corporate sector’s role in safeguarding or negative—towards the goal of from including preventive the health of their employees. This sustainable development (GRI, 2016). programmes within company widening in scope owes much to We explore its value in a strategic, operations; a few key drivers, such as better operational and organisational sense, • A greater significance ascribed documentation of the burden for example in enhancing a company’s to health by the international of non-communicable diseases, brand and improving employee and development community, and together with greater understanding external stakeholder engagement. its implications for businesses. of the direct and indirect cost of We further examine how sustainability ill-health on a business’ economic reporting has evolved and is now How to do OH&S reporting well performance. Reframing the role of mainstream, becoming common Practical guidance for OH&S reporting OH&S so that it is better integrated practice among multinational is offered. This features an outline of within an organisation’s sustainability corporations. some foundational elements of good management and performance makes reporting, such as: good business sense.
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