HR Corner Building a healthy workforce by Charles Mak Care for staff an everyday endeavour At a time when the terms "talent crunch" and "labour shortage" constantly make newspaper headlines, companies of all sizes are stepping up measures to ensure staff remain upbeat. "Taking good care of your people is the very essence of corporate citizenship," notes Angela Lau, president, Hong Kong & Macau, Nu Skin Enterprises Hong Kong Inc. To this end, the company cuts no corners. As an accredited caring company for four consecutive years, Nu Skin Hong Kong promotes staff welfare as second nature. In particular, on the 17th of every month, Nu Skin staff are treated to a healthy fruit. "We distribute selected fruits to staff as a token of appreciation. More importantly, this reminds them to keep in good shape and maintain personal well-being," Ms Lau says. Quarterly briefings keep staff informed of business results, future strategies and the latest news in the healthcare supplement industry, helping to boost health consciousness. Ms Lau expands, "In addition, our HR team sends out health-related messages and reminders via our internal portal to help staff remain focused on the importance of a balanced lifestyle." Such concern over staff well-being extends to the company's incentive scheme. In particular, a sport allowance encourages physical fitness. Staff may apply for allowance or reimbursement for gym membership or sports venue bookings. In a further move to encourage sensible weight management, the company recently launched a slimming competition. Under the guidance and close eye of a qualified nutritionist, participating staff embarked on a journey towards a healthier shape and a chance to win a HK$1,000 product allowance. According to Ms Lau, this was simply a small gesture to reward effort. Conscientiously healthy "Through education we promote the various benefits of a healthy lifestyle which naturally includes a balanced diet, adequate physical exercise and for some, an appropriate intake of health supplements," Ms Lau emphasises. Besides that, all staff can enjoy a 70 to 90 per cent discount at any one of the company's staff sales. A range of life enhancement gifts sponsored by vendors and business partners are given away at the company's annual dinner. This included a HK$8,000 travel allowance last year. Since Nu Skin values the importance of family life, in line with modern multinationals, male staff are offered two days' paternity leave. Ms Lau reveals that the company's paternity policy is currently under review with the aim of increasing the amount of paternity leave for male staff. "A functional family is the very core of everyone's life —i t gives you balance and mental nourishment that is hard to supplement in any other way," she says. "As a corporation, we are in an advantageous position to help others change lives for the better" Beneficial force Like its multinational counterparts, Nu Skin has a established set of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and guidelines. Setting the company apart however, is Nu Skin's pledge to reimburse staff for time off taken for charitable endeavours rather than expect staff to squeeze charity into their private time. "It is part of our corporate mission to contribute to society," Ms Lau explains, adding that staff engagement is an integral part of the entire CSR framework. "Doing good deeds enriches life and builds stronger characters and personalities. This can only do the beneficiaries, the staff and the company a world of good." On several occasions, even the company's distributors have become involved in charitable pursuits. In 2006, a Nu Skin volunteer team was formed as a result and it comprises more than 90 per cent Nu Skin staff and 400-plus distributors. The team organises volunteer services for underprivileged children on a monthly basis. To this date, more than 1,000 children have benefited. Over the years, Nu Skin has forged strong partnerships with several Hong Kong charity organisations including the Children's Heart Foundation (CHF). With continuous support from distributors and staff, Nu Skin has raised in excess of HK$4.5 million for the CHF, helping children with congenital heart diseases. "As a corporation, we are in an advantageous position to help others change lives for the better. We may leverage our products or align our human resources and business opportunities for a good cause," Ms Lau notes. Over the past decade, Nu Skin has raised an impressive total of HK$7 million for charities. To acknowledge contributions and enthusiasm and to encourage future participation, an annual "Force for Good" award is presented to an outstanding volunteer at the company's annual party. To Ms Lau, however, no figures can represent the true value of charity work. "Nobody can quantify team spirit or company loyalty even though these are mere by-products. However, to cite a correlation, I would say this spirit and loyalty are reflected in the low staff turnover rates we've recorded over the years," she concludes. Salient points * Monthly fruit distribution balances diets * Sport allowance scheme promotes physical fitness * Staff reimbursed for time off taken for charitable pursuits * Volunteer activities build character and personality Taken from Career Times 19 September 2008, p. B16 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]