Targeted strategies win the day at REBA’s Employee Wellbeing Awards 2020

The winner’s of REBA’s Employee Wellbeing Awards 2020 were announced last night (5 March), following an afternoon of fantastic discussion sessions where attendees learned from others and heard about their successes and challenges.

Read the full list of this year’s outstanding winners and the reasons why they were selected.

This year’s Award entries demonstrated how employee wellbeing is evolving to ensure that approaches are joined-up, evidence-led and culture-focused.

There were three key themes to emerge from this year’s Awards entries. First, was employers’ approach to listening to employees. More than ever, employers are basing their wellbeing strategies on employee feedback – be it through surveys, employee networks, discussion groups or other communication lines. And with this information the Award winners were able to demonstrate how they have adapted their wellbeing strategies to meet the requirements of their workforces.

Second, was the strategic element of the Award entries, with several companies submitting entries that related to addressing a particular need in their organisation. This demonstrated how companies are becoming increasingly focused in their wellbeing strategies and are using wellbeing initiatives, programmes and products to improve specific aspects of employees’ working lives.

Finally, a standout theme was how more businesses are aligning their wellbeing strategies to their broader business objectives. Wellbeing is now at the heart of many organisations, and several of our Award entrants demonstrated how they are using wellbeing to reinforce their company culture. Be it through improving diversity and inclusion, to encouraging healthy lifestyles and social connections, all of which relate back to broader company objectives.

In addition to the organisations that won an Award were the Pinnacle and Vanguard winners.

The Pinnacle Award is judged by REBA directors Phil Hayne and Debi O’Donovan and is awarded to a company that scored very highly in several categories, and has demonstrated outstanding commitment to workplace wellbeing. This year, that Award went to GSK.

The final category of the evening was the REBA Employee Wellbeing Visionary Award. The team at REBA wanted to honour the contribution made by a group of people who have had a huge impact on the workplace wellbeing movement. These visionaries have shifted thinking and influenced other leaders to change their approaches.

In discussion with influential contacts within the industry, REBA identified three very worth winners: Louise Aston from Business in the Community; Beth Robotham, deputy chair of the City Mental Health Alliance and executive director at Goldman Sachs; and Dame Carol Black.

Read the full list of this year’s outstanding winners and the reasons why they were selected.

The author is Dawn Lewis, content editor at REBA.