HR Corner Organisational health relies on staff wellness by Charles Mak The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a special programme to raise overall performance As an innovative and forward-thinking employer, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has long realised that a fundamental requirement for ongoing business success is a training programme that promotes the all-round development of staff. Therefore, they have consistently focused attention on this area and, since 1999, have been running a highly regarded in-house corporate wellness programme. It is for both part-time and full-time employees and includes five major elements: skills and knowledge, physical and emotional fitness, team spirit, enterprises communication, and social responsibilities. As Kim Mak, the HKJC's executive director for corporate development explains, "These are the essentials that will not only help staff have a good work-life balance but will also lead to even better development of the whole organisation." The training undertaken depends to some extent on each person's job, but focuses on upgrading skill sets, technical knowledge and leadership ability. This was of particular importance for the 10,000 frontline off-course betting branches and Telebet staff prior to the launch of regulated football betting operations in 2003. To promote physical and emotional health, sports events are organised, as well as regular talks about fitness and stress management. The importance of good eating habits and dealing with issues that affect the family have also been addressed. Special training programmes were devised to boost team spirit and cooperation between colleagues. "These programmes are very important because one cannot rely solely on skills and knowledge to make things work," Mr Mak says. In the long run, staff wellness has a major impact on any organisation's performance Understanding goals In his experience, it is essential to understand the concept of "internal customers" and ensure they buy into the key principles which define the HKJC. That is why enterprises communication is so important. "Communication with staff in many organisations is often one-way and from the top down," Mr Mak says. "To facilitate learning and help staff utilise their skills effectively, we need them to understand our general goals and directions and why we are doing certain things." Two staff websites and a newsletter therefore provide easily accessible updates and extensive information. As Hong Kong's biggest non-profit organisation making annual contributions of over HK$10 billion to 190 charities, the HKJC also organises and encourages staff to participate in community service activities and an extensive range of volunteer programmes. "To engage staff, we started out by showing video clips of previous charity events we had participated in," says Mr Mak. "Soon, they were taking an active part in social services such as offering English lessons for primary school children, hospital visits, collecting donations and much more. Other members of their families then started to join in as well." With around 20,000 staff, including part-timers, keeping all employees up to the highest standards is an almost never-ending task. "We devise long-term strategies to maintain and maximise the competencies of the workforce," says Mr Mak. "After all, Hong Kong's competitive edge lies in our human capital and service levels." New facilities As an extension of the five core elements of the wellness programme, the HKJC has introduced initiatives to take care of the "whole person". These include renovating the three-storey staff club which is used for training and recreation purposes and now has multimedia and audio-visual facilities within a special learning centre. For exercise, employees can use the workout area or take lessons in yoga, tai chi, pilates and kickboxing. "We believe staff should pay more attention to physical health because their energy and general well-being have a direct bearing on our success," Mr Mak notes. The staff restaurant has even created special menu items to ensure people have more choice and can always eat well. In the year ahead, the HKJC will invest over HK$10 million in providing soft skills training for about 14,000 employees to enhance general service standards and increase efficiency. Existing training programmes will also be updated to reflect advances in technology and the new levels of job-related skills now needed in individual departments. As a major employer with a reputation for leading the way in matters of human resources and staff development, the HKJC is already addressing issues which, before long, are likely to be near the top of the agenda for many other companies. "We would very much like to share the success of this programme with other employers in Hong Kong," says Mr Mak. "In the long run, staff wellness has a major impact on any organisation's performance. This kind of corporate wellness programme can help create a win-win situation and also enhance the service standards for Hong Kong." Salient points - Staff wellness plays a crucial part in achieving ongoing business success - Training programme should cover job-related skills plus broader issues - It helps to think of employees as "internal customers" and treat them accordingly - Good communication is vital to explain goals and directions - Investment in strategic training programmes and recreational facilities pays off in the long term Taken from Career Times 2 December 2005, p. A17 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]