Business Systems Group (Africa) – BSG - comes out top in biggest workplace wellness survey in SA
However, survey reveals South African employees have major health issues
In the largest survey of workplace wellness in South Africa, BSG came out tops as the healthiest company to work for in the country. The business and software solutions company has the healthiest employees and the best workplace wellness initiatives.
The survey is a joint initiative between Discovery Vitality and the University of the Witwatersrand.
“The inaugural Healthy Company Index surveyed some 13 500 employees within over 100 companies, and has revealed several health concerns, says Dr Craig Nossel, Head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery. “However, it is rewarding to see that more and more companies are rolling out wellness initiatives in the workplace with companies such as BSG leading the field in keeping their employees healthy.”
The survey rated companies in terms of healthiest workplace, highest motivation to improve health, greatest health knowledge, most physically active, best shape, most smoke-free and least stressed. The analysis was conducted by researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand.
The survey revealed that South African employees have several health concerns with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression the most prevalent chronic conditions among employees.
On average 71% of employees have a higher ‘Vitality Age’ at an average of 3.4 years higher than their actual age. The biggest driver of higher Vitality Age among South African employees is high cholesterol levels, high Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking.
“Vitality Age is an estimate of a person’s health by looking at certain health risk factors – those factors showing how a healthy lifestyle is keeping the person ‘young’ or making him or her ‘older’ than he or she is,” says Dr Nossel. “The average actual age of the employees surveyed was 36.4 but the average Vitality Age was 39.8, meaning that employees are losing on average 3.4 years or almost 10% of life because of poor lifestyle habits.
The survey reveals that there is a direct link between a higher Vitality Age and doctor visits. Respondents with a Vitality Age higher than their actual age had 34.9% more visits to a doctor, 26% more days in hospital and missed 28.1% more days due to illness or injury than those with a Vitality Age lower than their actual age.
Helping employees be healthier
Dr Nossel says that companies in South Africa are on the right track for promoting good health, with two-thirds of participating employers offering emergency response training, on-site health screening, health educations programmes and mental well-being programmes and onsite childcare. 50% of participating employers indicate that they offer an onsite wellness programme.
“The workplace is not only an ideal environment to promote healthy living, but it is also a responsibility for employers to look after the health and wellbeing of their employees,” says Dr Nossel.
2011 Sunday Times Healthy Company Index results
Healthiest company in South Africa
1. BSG (Africa)
2. Vital Health Foods
3. Cadiz Holdings
Healthiest workplace
1. Cadiz Holdings
2. Vital Health Foods
3. Outsurance
Highest motivation to improve health
1. HST
2. Elixir Organisation Health
3. Eli Lilly (SA)
Greatest Health Knowledge
1. Vital Health Foods
2. Tongaat Hulett South Africa and Voermol Foods
3. Shell SA Marketing
Healthiest Eating Habits
1. Vital Health Foods
2. Cadiz Holdings
3. Cornwall Hill College
Best shape (BMI)
1. BSG (African)
2. Davis Langdon an Aecom Company
3. Johnson Matthey
Most physically active
1. Cadiz Holdings
2. Virgin Active
3. The unlimited
Most smoke free
1. BSG (Africa)
2. UFS
3. Whri
Least stressed
1. Cadiz Holdings
2. Centurion Systems
3. Striata SA
