A new Wellbeing Strategy aims to increase productivity by ensuring Argyll and Bute Council employees are supported in leading healthy, independent lives.

The Policy and Resources Committee this week approved the Employee Wellbeing Strategy 2019-2024, designed to tie in with the Council’s status as an ‘Employer of Choice’ and support employees’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Councillor Andrew Vennard, Depute Policy Lead for Corporate Services, said: “We care about our employees and want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help them live healthy lives. It’s clear that employees who feel well and who see that their employer is engaged in their wellbeing will be more productive in their roles. That also benefits the Council as an organisation as well as the members of the public we serve.”

The strategy has been developed using information gathered in the Council’s 2018 Employee Wellbeing Survey.

Teams within the Council will be encouraged to bid for funds to carry out actions that will improve wellbeing, while two Attendance and Wellbeing Assistants will help teams and managers to improve wellbeing.

Ongoing review of the strategy will be carried out, with the intention of ensuring it provides long term benefits.