When we began developing the HOSPO Health program in 2022 we were guided by the knowledge that healthy, happy workplaces are good for business on all levels.
If you’ve been following HOSPO Health from the start you will have heard us talk about the research showing that for every dollar you spend on staff wellbeing there is a $2.30 return on investment to your business.
The benefits gained by the business typically consist of:
- improved productivity
- reduced absenteeism
- lower numbers of compensation claims
- improved staff retention, which is particularly beneficial in a tight labour market.
Additionally for our industry, happy and engaged staff also add value by fostering a better, more welcoming customer experience.
Two years on, the impetus for looking after our people and their health and wellbeing remains as strong as ever. The relationship between working conditions and health is increasingly recognised as a crucial social determinant of health. And as the evidence supporting this connection grows, the responsibility for employers to cultivate a mentally healthy workplaces becomes even more pronounced.
A framework to guide your business
Earlier this year we released the HOSPO Health Wellbeing Framework, a resource created specifically for the hospitality industry in Tasmania to help guide business owners and managers.
The framework serves as a practical tool that is applicable to businesses of varying sizes and types. It offers a comprehensive approach to fostering a workplace that prioritises the mental wellbeing of employees, while also enhancing overall workplace productivity and satisfaction.
The HOSPO Health Wellbeing Framework is based around three core principles.
To put these principles into practical actions, we have broken employee wellbeing down into five different areas: physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, social wellbeing, financial wellbeing and occupational wellbeing.
Rolling this approach out in your business
We know that owning or managing a hospitality venue is both challenging and rewarding, and most of us are increasingly time-poor. So how can you roll out the Wellbeing Framework in your business?
- You can download the full framework from this website. If your business has a leadership team you might like to hand it over to that group for implementation and measurement.
- You can make a time to chat with our HOSPO Health team about how the framework can be applied within your venue, using a practical roll out that is achievable within your existing resources.
- Let us guide you on a step-by-step approach. Over the coming months we will be addressing one of these areas of wellbeing in our columns in this magazine. We’ll provide short bite-sized content with practical examples that you can easily implement within your workplace.
Our HOSPO Health Wellbeing Framework is a resource to help you create a workplace where all staff feel valued, safe, healthy and happy. And a healthy, happy workforce where people thrive is a key ingredient for better business outcomes.
* This article was written for and published in Hospitality Review magazine, June / July 2024.