Aon’s mental health program recognised with award
SYDNEY April 7, 2017 - Coca-Cola Amatil (Amatil) has been recognised by Human Resources Director Magazine as having one of Australia's most innovative HR teams for its Healthy Minds@Work program, developed by Aon to deliver mental health training to staff.
Healthy Minds@Work was developed for Amatil to support people leaders and HR staff to recognise the early warning signs of common mental illnesses, while equipping them with the skills and confidence to undertake constructive conversations. The primary focus is to create a psychologically healthier workplace.
"When we began working with Amatil four years ago, their HR team noted that managers were calling them wanting to know what to do. Now, having conducted training for people leaders, managers are contacting HR to inform them they've taken action and had a conversation with an employee, and put plans or actions in place," said Esther Ekkelenkamp, Client Manager, People Risk, Aon Risk Solutions.
"This has been enormously rewarding knowing that Aon has equipped people with skills and confidence to have those difficult conversations, and ultimately assisted in creating psychologically healthy workplaces. We've also received great feedback from Amatil that the program has contributed to reducing the stigma around mental health."
Jennifer Cameron, Client Director, People Risk, Aon Risk Solutions, said that workplaces and managers are in a unique position to influence an individual's wellbeing.
"When people don't have the skills and confidence to approach someone that they think may be experiencing a mental health problem, there is a very real risk of not only the condition becoming chronic, but also for a negative impact on productivity and engagement."
"Conversely, well managed and supportive conversations can have the ability to assist an individual in seeking support, and can provide individuals who are experiencing difficulties with a sense of direction, meaning, place and purpose."
Mental illnesses cost Australian businesses $10.9 billion every year in absenteeism, reduced productivity in the workplace and compensation claims.1
"With research showing 65% of people who suffer mental illnesses don't seek any medical assistance"1, Jennifer adds, "the workplace is truly at the forefront of improving mental health and overall employee wellbeing."
Aon has expertise in workplace mental health training and consulting, and provides a range of workplace safety solutions.
1 Fact vs myth: treatment & recovery. SANE Australia.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 72,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global and principal partnership with Manchester United.