“Wellness initiatives deliver commercial benefits and there are studies to demonstrate ROI for the business”
According to McKinsey & Company the global wellness market is currently worth about $1.5tn, with annual growth of 5% to 10%
The approach to wellness in the workplace in GCC countries differs compared to what’s seen in markets such as North America, Europe, the UK and even the Far East, according to Jennie Stallings, Partner and Commercial Manager at ChelseaGREEN.
“Awareness of its importance is growing but there is still a lot more to be done, and many opportunities to improve wellness in the workplace across all sectors. One of the main drivers for widespread adoption is education and incentivisation on a government level,” she explains.
Stallings is an established wellness consultant based in Dubai and will be speaking at Middle East Consultant’s forthcoming Wellness in Construction Summit, which will focus on Health, Safety and Wellness in the built environment. The event is scheduled to take place on 5 October 2022 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai. Registration is complementary but mandatory for construction professionals. Read about the event’s agenda here.
Discussing wellness programmes and critical steps that businesses need to put into action for tangible results, Stallings comments, “This is a complex topic and the requirements are multi-faceted. However, the biggest thing is putting it into practice from the top down, with businesses owners and CEOs leading by example. Employees need to see they have the company’s support to make their health and wellness a priority.”
Many individuals and companies have touted the benefits of wellness programs in the workplace, with a number of construction stakeholders introducing staff focused programs in a bid to boost productivity and take care of staff health.
According to McKinsey & Company, the global wellness market is worth about $1.5tn, with an annual growth of 5% to 10%. It noted that as per a survey of 7,500 consumers in six countries, 79% of the respondents said they believe that wellness is important, with 42% considering it a top priority.
Asked whether wellness initiatives actually deliver commercial benefits, Stallings responds, “Wellness initiatives absolutely deliver commercial benefits and there are numerous studies to demonstrate the return on investment for a business a whole. When the wellbeing of staff improves, productivity is enhanced and that has a direct impact on the bottom line.”
In June 2022, CRTKL said that wellness and happiness are key for Egyptian workplaces.
She adds, “Anybody and everybody can benefit from an in-house wellness program, providing it is tailored to the particular company and meets the individual needs of the user.” She made the comment when asked whether only particular employees or stakeholder groups benefit from in-house wellness initiatives.
Speaking about the Wellness in Construction Summit and its importance, she points out, “This event is helping to bring the wellness conversation to the forefront of people’s minds, and it’s only when these things are talked about openly that change happens.”
“It is also important to understand how wellness fits into the construction process as a whole during design and build, rather than seeing it as an interiors job once the occupiers move in,” she elaborates.
Discussing her presentation at the Wellness in Construction Summit – What can a business gain from wellness? A look at realities – she notes, “I’m going to cover several aspects but my main objective is to highlight how the value of an organisation is driven by its people and therefore, how companies can attract, nurture and retain talent with well-developed wellness strategies.”
She concludes, “I will discuss the tangible financial benefits and demonstrate how wellness programs contribute to high-performing workplaces. I will also look at the main aspects to consider from a conceptual point of view, such as air quality, movement, and ergonomics.”
