Wet wipe manufacturer Nice-Pak engages employees with men’s health support through the use of competition and financial reward.
The organisation, which employs around 490 employees across sites in Flint and Wigan, uses the YuLife app, which allows users to convert walking, cycling and meditation achievements into YuCoins. Employees can then put these towards vouchers, discounts, travel and more. Through the app, Nice-Pak was able to create a walking leaderboard for physical activity, and Sudoku for mental activity, which has generated regular conversations among all employees, but particularly men.
Employees can also access health and wellbeing assistance such as a 24/7 confidential employee support line and 24/7 GP services through the app.
This financial reward has been successful in supporting engagement, says Vicki Alexander, senior HR officer and wellness specialist at Nice-Pak.
“Staff also participate in the additional in-app events to boost their tally,” she says. !Many employees collect their YuCoin and spend once a year near Christmas. There are many conversations on how much they have and how they have earned them.”
Nice-Pak additionally offers a home prostate specific antigen level testing service for prostate cancer, and runs regular men’s health awareness sessions on gender stereotypes and gender equality, men’s general physical health and mortality rates, eating healthily, prostate problems, erectile dysfunction and testicular cancer, male suicide, and stress. The aim of these is to unpick men’s reluctance to visit their GP and highlight the impact this has on mortality rates.
In addition, during Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the organisation turned its phone lines off for one hour and encouraged all staff to use the time to focus on their mental health either through social interaction with colleagues, reading a book or meditation (pictured above).
In terms of encouraging men’s health conversations in the workplace, the organisation uses impactful notice board messages. Last year, the HR team put up a picture of two pears next to a big sign with the heading ‘Testicles’, followed by tips for how to check these for signs of cancer. The notice boards are placed in prominent positions around the sites, with one in the main reception area visible to not just staff, but also visitors and customers.
Nice-Pak also has links with Andy’s Man club in Wigan, which is for men to meet on a Monday at 7pm, promoting the message that it is all right to talk. Furthermore, the HR team always includes the message ‘don’t die of embarrassment’ in any emails on topics of a sensitive nature.
“This quickly became a talking point. I still recall hovering above the send button for what felt like ages while I plucked up the courage to send my first ‘check your testicles’ email four years ago. The more [we] talk about something the less embarrassing it becomes. Embarrassment should not be a cause of death. It is really important to break down the stigma of talking about health issues and seeking help. We need to get more men to talk about their health and encourage others to do the same,” Alexander concludes.
