Nothing ‘Lite n’ Easy’ about health and wellbeing
Meal delivery service Lite n’ Easy has invested strongly in the health and wellbeing of its workers since it first opened for business 34 years ago.
The company has five sites across Australia and its Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Bell Silverthorne consults with leaders at each site to identify issues and strategies to support staff relevant to their location and specific needs.
Health issues are identified through free annual health checks for workers, followed up by tailored medical consultations if required. Workers also can see an onsite physiotherapist. There is a 50–60% participation rate in the health checks and the deidentified results are used to inform strategies to address identified issues. Yearly results fluctuate, but over the last three years they show staff are eating more fruit and vegetables than the Australian average, and 84% meet recommended alcohol guidelines – 68% above the Australian average!
As well as healthy eating, stopping smoking and increased physical activity, Lite n’ Easy also has a focus on skin cancer prevention, using free community cancer screening programs to encourage workers to take preventative skin cancer action.
It can be difficult for workers to consistently make healthy meals, so the company offers its own ready-made meals in its canteens at below cost price. The Team Member Celebration Policy ensures healthy food and drink are the only options at each site—a policy which extends to team meetings, external events and the annual family days.
All sites have gyms and access to personal trainers and various fitness classes ranging from bootcamp to Pilates. Lite n’ Easy strives to make the healthy choice to be the easiest choice.
To help workers quit smoking, Lite n ’Easy subsidises quit smoking products and provides education on the benefits of not smoking. This strategy is resulting in workers smoking less.
Lite n’ Easy recognises and celebrates workers who have taken steps to improve their health, featuring them on posters and corporate communications. Bell says that improving health and wellbeing isn’t a perfect science.
“You have to keep pushing and innovating to appeal to all workers. But most importantly, be consistent,” she said.
Further information
Read more on how to deliver a work health and wellbeing program or contact Workplace Health and Safety Queensland at healthyworkers@oir.qld.gov.au.