Occupational health and wellness is increasing its prominence in public company sustainability strategies

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Forética

The Sustainability and CSR in Public Companies Action Group - led by Forética and composed of more than 30 public entities, led by the Instituto de Crédito Oficial and Informa D&B - contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 and presents innovative plans and initiatives on employee health, wellness and digital disconnection.
As stated in the recent study published within the framework of the Task Force, which analyzes the commitment of public companies to the new regulatory frameworks for sustainability in the European Union, social aspects, including those related to occupational health and safety, are receiving greater attention from regulators and investors.
Health and wellness is also one of the nine business transformation pathways included in the 'Vision 2050' roadmap recently presented within the framework of the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The Action Group on Sustainability and CSR in Public Companies -led by Forética and made up of more than 30 public entities, led by the Instituto de Crédito Oficial and Informa D&B-, addresses the social contribution of public companies to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, in terms of employee health, well-being and digital disconnection.

As stated in the recent study published by Forética within the framework of the Action Group, under the title 'Sustainability in public companies from the triple ESG perspective. Commitment to the new regulatory frameworks for sustainability in the European Union', social aspects, including those linked to occupational health and safety, are becoming more prominent in the sustainability agendas of companies as a result, among other factors, of greater attention from stakeholders - especially regulators and investors - and the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, which has accelerated many of the global challenges.

Ana Gómez, Manager of the Sustainability and CSR in Public Companies Action Group, emphasizes: "Health is one of the main pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, not only because it has its own goal (SDG 3 on Health and Wellbeing), but also because health is one of the most reliable indicators of development and sustainability in society. According to the United Nations, healthy and happy people are the basis of healthy economies, and therefore it is essential to prioritize this issue and to conceive its importance in a cross-cutting manner. Given the great power of action and the strong impact that organizations have on people, they must work to articulate inclusive, respectful and ambitious measures that favor health and well-being, one of the nine business transformation routes included in the 'Vision 2050' roadmap recently presented within the framework of the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development".

Over the last two years there has been an increase in cases of anxiety, depression, loneliness or stress globally, and according to a recent study published in The Lancet, it is estimated that the pandemic has caused 53 million additional cases of depression and is already the leading cause of disability in the world. The relationship between investment in health and well-being and productivity in organizations has been demonstrated: according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), for every dollar invested in the expanded treatment of common mental disorders, there is a return of 4 dollars in improved productivity.

The action of public companies in the field of health and welfare

In the words of María Ordovás, Head of the Sustainability and CSR in Public Companies Action Group: "New information and communication technologies have given rise to new forms of work organization, a trend marked and accelerated by the need for adaptation and digitization of companies as a result of COVID-19 in recent years. The accelerated digitalization, the lack of digital disconnection, the increased isolation of workers as a result of teleworking or the new trend to 'always on', are having a negative impact on the mental health of employees. In this line, we are increasingly facing challenges in relation to the delimitation between work and rest time and digital disconnection, which can become a harmful psychosocial risk for the health of a worker. Companies have the obligation to ensure its limitation and proper management".

The business meeting organized by Forética within the framework of the Action Group on this subject was attended by Jerónimo Maqueda, Director of the Department of Health Promotion and Occupational Epidemiology of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, who discussed in depth the work of the Spanish Network of Healthy Companies and the importance of the adoption by organizations of an advanced model of occupational health.

Besides, three public companies which are part of the Action Group have shared their innovative plans and initiatives in the field of employee health and welfare: Informa D&B, with the participation of Patricia Manzano, HR Assistant; ENAIRE, with the participation of Maite Montoto, Head of the Social Action Department, and Carmen Carretero, Head of the Occupational Risk Prevention Department; and Navantia, with Manuel Delgado, Head of the Navantia Empresa Saludable Project 'Embárcate en Salud' (Embark in Health).

The Action Group on Sustainability and CSR in Public Enterprises, led by Forética and headed by the Instituto de Crédito Oficial and Informa D&B, is made up by more than 30 public member companies: Adif, Aena, Aquavall, CESCE, Corporación Empresarial Pública de Aragón, Emasesa, ENAIRE, Enresa, ENUSA, Extremadura Avante, Grupo Tragsa, ICEX, INECO, Metro de Madrid, Navantia, Paradores, Renfe, RTVE, SENASA and Valenciaport. The following entities participate in the Group as observer members: COFIDES, Corporación Pública Empresarial de Navarra (CPEN), Giahsa, the Civil Guard, ISDEFE, the Directorate General of Police, Red Elige, the National Health Network of CSR and Sociedad Mercantil Estatal de Gestión Inmobiliaria de Patrimonio (SEGIPSA).

The Task Force began this fifth edition in 2022 by analyzing the actions of SOEs in the transition to zero net emissions. In previous editions, the Group has addressed key sustainability issues such as the commitment of public companies to the new regulatory frameworks for sustainability in the European Union, the contribution to the 2030 Agenda(with a focus on initiatives related to transparency, circular economy and corporate volunteering), non-financial risk management and responsible public procurement, among others.