CASE STUDY
Going the distance for better wellbeing
What makes Mackay a peaceful retreat for many tourists, presents challenges for the Council’s geographically and professionally varied workforce.
Mackay Regional Council looks after nearly 115,000 residents on Queensland’s scenic north-eastern coast
A significant distance from major cities, Mackay’s location came with challenges for the Council when it came to supporting their staff’s wellbeing.
Logging on, tuning in
In response to these challenges, the Council partnered with Springday to launch their digital wellbeing platform, Zest 4 Life.
This online platform was exclusively tailored to the needs of Council staff, with a broad range of wellbeing content – including videos, articles, masterclasses and live-streams of particular Council events.
Previously, the Council’s internal wellbeing initiatives relied on hard copy flyers, manual distribution and physical presence at events like morning teas, with low attendance rates.
Zest 4 Life focused on engaging employees while accommodating their diverse roles and preferences.
The platform aimed to provide employees with easy access to resources and information concerning internal wellbeing programs and offerings.
Since rolling out the digital platform, employee engagement and event attendance rates have increased.
Through digital distribution and streaming of events, more people are actively engaging with and attending the online events and utilising the resources available.
Working with Springday is always a fluent and effective process” Council employee Emma Krix said.
“By having one specific client manager the day-to-day platform management feels personalised and tailored to suit our business needs.
The setup and rollout of the platform was led by Springday and was conducted effortlessly with great uptake and success.”
Working with Springday is always a fluent and effective process. By having one specific client manager the day-to-day platform management feels personalised and tailored to suit our business needs. The setup and rollout of the platform was led by Springday and was conducted effortlessly with great uptake and success.
– Emma Krix
Mackay Regional Council
Measuring success
In the year since launching Zest 4 Life in 2022, the platform has produced a raft of positive results for the Council, easing the challenges faced by the Health, Safety and Wellbeing team, including:
Over 85% of staff engaging with the platform
The decision to provide a digital platform has helped the Council reach more of their workers.
With a diverse range of content available, employees can access the platform when they need support, not restricted by working hours or physical distance.
This ease of use is helping to overcome historical reluctance to approach mental health conversations and build interest in personal wellbeing.
Increased event participation and attendance by employees
Mackay Council decided to integrate more of its events into the Zest 4 Life platform, resulting in a notable increase in event attendance.
Their annual wellbeing expo event experienced a remarkable 200% increase in participation.
This integration of events into the platform successfully reached and engaged employees who were traditionally hard to reach due to their remote and field-based roles.
Surveyed staff felt supported by their leaders
Recent survey results indicated that staff reported feeling supported by their leaders when it came to encouraging personal wellbeing improvement.
Zest 4 Life is one of the tools leaders use to support their employee wellbeing.
These flow on effects have positively influenced the broader organisational culture, and peer support amongst employees.
Conclusion
The development and implementation of the Zest 4 Life platform by Springday in partnership with the Mackay Regional Council has helped the Council overcome a number of critical barriers to wellbeing and mental health for its employees.
Zest 4 Life was created to and successfully countered the distance for its far-flung workforce.
The strategic integration of digital wellbeing solutions can effectively overcome challenges related to employee engagement, diverse work environments, and cultural barriers.
“Our platform is utilised by approximately 80% of our entire workforce” Emma said.
“It is known as a one-stop go-to hub for all things health and wellbeing and is easy to access and navigate regardless of digital literacy levels.”
Our platform is utilised by approximately 80% of our entire workforce. It is known as a one-stop go-to hub for all things health and wellbeing and is easy to access and navigate regardless of digital literacy levels. The platform’s diverse range of content opened new ways of thinking and wellbeing for a significant portion of their workforce who have historically been reluctant to engage with the topic of mental health – for themselves and others.
– Emma Krix
Mackay Regional Council
The platform’s diverse range of content opened new ways of thinking and wellbeing for a significant portion of their workforce who have historically been reluctant to engage with the topic of mental health – for themselves and others.
By tailoring the platform to individual preferences and facilitating access to resources, the Council achieved remarkable engagement rates and increased event participation.
Furthermore, the platform’s success extended to shaping a culture of leadership support and employee wellbeing perception, reinforcing the positive impact of customised digital solutions in mixed workplace environments.
Featured benefits
Attract and retain employees
Investing in a customised corporate wellbeing platform by Springday helps you create a culture of care and wellbeing where employees feel valued. It sends a message to both potential job candidates and current employees that your organisation is an attractive place to work. This is vital for finding and retaining top talent, and reducing the costs of staff turnover.
Boost productivity
Promoting wellbeing within your organisation helps to boost productivity, engagement and presenteeism. Providing resources and activities that encourage teams to take care of their overall health and wellbeing helps to reduce the loss in productivity that can result from poor health, stress, burnout and fatigue. Put simply, when your people feel well, they perform well.
Tailored wellbeing strategy
At Springday, we use data-driven insights to inform a tailored wellbeing strategy for your organisation, so you can target areas of improvements where your employees need it most. Aggregate, de-identified data from our Wellbeing Assessment Tools allows you to make an informed wellbeing strategy based on insights – moving your wellbeing decisions from anecdotal to data-driven.
Build strong work culture
Building a culture of wellbeing within your organisation can lead to increased engagement, better work relationships and better business outcomes. Contributing to the health and wellbeing of your employees with a holistic wellbeing strategy improves their quality of life both at work and at home, which leads to increased morale and a more positive workplace culture.
Want to bring your wellbeing strategy to life? Contact us today.
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