by Maya Asbridge
I. Introduction
A combination of physical and mental health creates the picture of employee wellness that we strive towards at Asbridge and Son Butcher Shop. Our business values both of these factors individually and equally, but also appreciates that there is interplay among them and that they are most effective in the company of eachother.
II. Physical Health
Physical health is perhaps the most intuitive of all safety. As such, we are conscious, when recruiting new employees, to inquire about their health and wellbeing. If a pressing medical issue exists, we may not be quick to hire the applicant, due to the danger it would present to them. If we determine that an existing medical issue does not present great danger, we may hire the applicant, but continue to monitor and adapt their work regimen according to their current physical health. Additionally, all new employees are subjected to a routine physical with a physician who must clear them for work.
For our existing employees, we encourage an open and nonjudgmental environment in which they can feel free to speak with us about their physical health and let us know how we can help. Current employees are also subjected to annual physical examinations by a physician who must again clear them for work.
We also provide health insurance to all of our fulltime workers and encourage them to make use of it, especially when feeling unwell. We are sure to inform all employees that they are entitled to 10 paid sick days per year and may receive more time, given they receive a doctor’s note regarding their ailment. Upon employees’ return to work, we ensure that they are fully healthy based on their physician’s advice; if they are not, we provide additional paid leave. We do not implement return to work programs, as they could potentially increase the risk to reinjury.
In the work environment itself, our main concern is maintaining employee’s immediate physical safety. To do this, we first provide extensive training regarding the machinery used for the meat and its appropriate usage. In the butchery, we have handsaws, bandsaws, and meat grinders, to name a few. As such, we work to maintain the integrity of the machinery with preventative maintenance and administer proper training and equipment to all employees. In addition, we also educate workers on the dangers of handling raw meat, including risk of diseases such as salmonella and E. coli; and we pair new employees with seasoned workers who we feel exemplify safe and appropriate work practices. We also, at all times, require clean hands, steel-tipped boots, and hair nets.
III. Mental Health
Though it can, at times, fly under the radar, mental health can be just as much a safety concern as physical health. If an employee is feeling unwell psychologically, they may be more prone to putting themselves and their colleges at risk, be it intentionally or unintentionally. Psychological strain can also have a negative impact on physical health and thus impact both aspects of workplace safety. For this reason, we aim to be highly attuned to the mental states of our workers.
Prior to the hiring of any new employee, a psychological examination, on top of the physical examination, must be performed by a qualified psychologist. This exam is paid for by us as a business expense. If a mental illness exists, but which won’t cause the applicant to be a danger to themselves or others in any way, they may be hired. However, we maintain an awareness of their illness and, depending on the severity (as determined by the psychologist), we may check in with them from time to time.
All employees, regardless of documented mental conditions, are encouraged to fill out a wellness and fulfillment survey, crafted by us in conjunction with a psychologist, every six months. In doing this, we hope to remain aware of the mental health of our employees and catch any negative trends before they escalate.
As mentioned above, we do our best to encourage openness between employees and employers; we feel that employee engagement is the key to creating an environment conducive to stable mental health. Thus, we gather all employees together once every six months for a brief meeting to check-in on what we as employers can do to help them feel more appreciated and mentally content.
So far, based on the suggestions of the employees, we have implemented a zen room, in which workers can take breaks, listen to relaxing music, and escape the work environment. We have also posted the information to multiple psychologists and psychiatric resources on our bulletin board, all of which are covered by our insurance plan. Finally, we send, via email, monthly individualized comments to each worker regarding the great work they’re doing and what they can improve on.
In implementing these various resources, we hope to keep our workers healthy and safe psychologically.
IV. Conclusion
By working together with employees and being conscientious of both their immediate and long-term physical and mental health, we hope to prevent harm to our workers and create a healthy and safe workplace environment for all.
Maya's Blog 