Background

It provides a comprehensive range of waste, water and energy management services designed to build the circular economy and preserve scarce raw materials.

Veolia has been awarded two of the UK’s most prestigious business accolades for our role as an environmental and social sustainability leader – Business in the Community’s Responsible Business of the Year (nationally) (2016) and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development (2014).

In Northern Ireland its services include wastewater treatment, sludge disposal and industrial energy management and maintenance.

What Veolia did

The physical, mental and financial well-being of its people is at the heart of Veolia’s values. This is evidenced by building it into the business objectives and is managed, implemented and integrated by Veolia’s active risk strategy at management level. The Active Risk strategy moves the organisation from a compliance mindset to one where risk is managed as a natural part of all activities. Whilst there is a central focus on wellbeing, this manifests itself locally. This is seen in initiatives such as working with local charities, promoting healthy eating, mental health, physical health, financial advice, health surveillance & wellbeing on site checks and access to occupational services. There is also importance placed on teamwork both formally in the work environment and informally through social events and celebrating team successes.

The 2017 wellbeing programme included: Health Surveillance; Health Matters; Back in Action; Employee Assistance Programme; Mindfulness; Alpha Mind; Virgin step 10,000 day challenge; Fruit to sites; Cycle to work scheme; and Charity event (Mourne Challenge)

Veolia recognised there were lots of initiatives being carried out and needed to integrate these into a holistic corporate strategy. It consists of three pillars; people, process & system and risk & assurance. Health & wellbeing forms one of the five topics within the ‘People’ section

Veolia recognises both the social and business need to care for their employees, understand and manage the impact of health and wellbeing, and promote the benefits of supporting healthy lifestyle choices. The ultimate aim is to integrate wellbeing into the DNA of the business to deliver business benefits including reduced absenteeism, increased employee retention, being an employer of choice, reduce financial burden on the business and wider society.

Impacts and Outcomes

• Staff turnover of 8.6% (2% due to retirement); average length of employment is more than 5 years
• 55% response rate to employee survey; up 16% on the previous year
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives have enabled employees to remain in work despite short-term medical conditions with duties modified where necessary
• The 100-day challenge, charity climb and healthy eating initiatives have helped with health, but also improved morale
• £2,344.78 raised for NI Cancer Fund for Kids
• More than 90% of staff are happy with their work environment
• Over 75% attended First Aid Training

For more information, please email justine.mcmullan@veolia.com or christine.phillips@veolia.com