Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER APRIL 2018 FEATURES 23 HEALTH & SAFETY Road safety pilot project engages workers By Mark Edgar A s an insurance company, the safety and security of customers is a key prior- ity. RSA Canada strives to pre- vent and protect customers from potential risks every single day. What's not discussed often enough in the insurance industry, and many industries, is the safety of employees. And for HR profes- sionals, one of their core responsi- bilities is to ensure the well-being of employees so they are set up to best serve customers in the most effective way. Mental health and safety in the workplace is still a fairly taboo topic in the insurance industry. One in five Canadians suffer from anxiety, depression or another form of mental illness, accord- ing to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), yet many employees choose not to speak up, and many companies don't pay enough attention to this important issue. Alongside the negative impact mental health has on an individ- ual, it contributes to a hefty price tag for the Canadian economy. On the other hand, happy and healthy employees are more productive and take fewer sick days and, ac- cording to a 2012 report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, every $1 invested in health and wellness generates $3 in return. When it comes to the mental health and safety of employees, HR professionals have a crucial role to play. ey need to con- stantly find new, effective ways to create a supportive work environment. With that in mind, RSA Can- ada recently launched a partner- ship with Not Myself Today, a program that provides informa- tion, tools and resources to raise awareness and understanding of mental health, reduce stigma around the topic, and help build a psychologically safe and support- ive work culture. RSA has also incorporated LifeWorks, an employee resource offering confidential support and services for work, life, fam- ily, health and financial matters. e program includes 24-7 con- sultations, information, access to counselling (by phone, live video, chat or in-person), community re- ferrals, a secure desktop website and a mobile app. Safety in the workplace When it comes to physical safe- ty, RSA's people generally work in low-risk environments. But the company takes steps to keep them physically safe and ensure they feel comfortable at work, and when they are visiting customers outside of the office. As part of RSA's commitment to safety and well-being, a key priority this year is road safety. It's a growing concern across Canada, and a highly contentious debate in a major city like Toronto, where road incidents are on the rise. So the company is launching a road safety campaign, Truce TO, to bring awareness, education and harmony to everyone using To- ronto's roads. at includes em- ployees — being in a big, bustling city, the company has thousands of customers, brokers and em- ployees who use Toronto's roads to walk, drive, cycle or take public transit into work every day. RSA will be using the insights from the pilot to educate employ- ees across the country on the risks that face them on their journey to and from work. RSA recently conducted an em- ployee survey to learn more about how our people get to work, their habits and behaviours on the road, how much they know about road safety and how they feel about other road users. It will be using these insights to guide employee road safety initia- tives this year. e company is also collaborat- ing with employees to learn about their personal "road stories" and sharing them company-wide. And it's engaging employees in this campaign through volunteering with local road safety initiatives and encouraging them to create cycling and walking clubs. It's about linking people's day jobs to a much bigger purpose. Finding fulfillment and purpose in a job isn't just a millennial fad — it's something everyone strives for. Whether they're an under- writer, a marketing manager or an administrative assistant, each and every RSA employee should feel like they are helping deliver RSA's purpose of making life bet- ter, together. at's why getting employees engaged and participating in cor- porate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives is a priority — without their support, these safety cam- paigns won't succeed. Luckily, RSA employees are motivated to drive CSR initiatives — in 2017, there were 25 employee-driven fundraising campaigns, and 325 employees volunteered 1,723 hours of their time. RSA also set a new record as 100 per cent of the budget for matching donations was used, while a record number of employ- ees reached their annual maxi- mum limit. Advice for companies While RSA is proud of what it's accomplished so far, it must con- tinually re-evaluate what it is do- ing by monitoring the impact of different initiatives and evolving practices based on employees' needs. Once the basic safety require- ments are in place, employers should continually look for ways to fill in the gaps to improve the workplace for employees. One way is by acknowledging that work is one component of their lives, and taking the op- portunity to educate them on different aspects of safety and well-being for themselves and their families. Another way is by taking the opportunity to understand your business and industry, and look- ing for specific links between your business and safety. Make unique connections within your broader CSR focus — for example, if "safety" is a CSR pillar, look for ways to relate it to the work employees do so they feel a greater sense of purpose in their work. Be creative — the return is ab- solutely worth it. Mark Edgar is vice-president of hu- man resources at RSA Canada in Toronto. For more information, visit www.rsagroup.ca. CAREpath is the only Canadian Health Care navigation program of its kind offered in Canada. We have extensive experience in navigating Canadians through the health care system. Cancer Assistance Seniors' Care Assistance HealthCare Assist Your Wellness Partner Credit: Matt Benoit (Shutterstock) LOOKING FOR A SUPPLIER OR VENDOR? Visit hrreporter.com/hr-vendors-guide

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