Leading energy company Contact has today announced it's the first organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand to be accredited with the Wellbeing Tick.
The workplace accreditation programme recognises organisations that commit to the wellbeing of their people and are ready to make systemic changes to the way they operate.
“As a company working at pace to lead the decarbonisation of Aotearoa, we acknowledge we ask a lot of our people and wanted to ensure that all their hard mahi does not have a negative effect on them,” says Jan Bibby, Chief People Experience Office at Contact.
“Getting everything out in the open and having honest conversations with our people was key to us becoming accredited.”
“At the Wellbeing Tick, we seek to transform how organisations approach workplace wellbeing and mental health through a framework that is easy to action. I’m proud of Contact for grabbing this opportunity with both hands and making the needs of their staff, a priority,” says Philly Powell, CEO and Founder of the Wellbeing Tick.
A commitment to wellbeing
In March last year, Contact made a public commitment to be the founding member for the Wellbeing Tick with the aim of ‘embedding wellbeing in everything we think, say and do’.
“We realised that if we were going to make a real difference to the wellbeing of our people, we would all need to get comfortable with vulnerability and open up to share a real picture of where we were at with wellbeing, and where we wanted to be,” says Jan.
Throughout the programme people at Contact shared their thoughts, opinions and ideas in surveys and focus groups. “Amongst the positive results, we could clearly see there were some significant things we needed to change and improve on to support our people.” says Jan.
Addressing burnout
“Almost half of the people who responded to survey’s were at risk of burnout, which highlighted a very important challenge for us to do better. Our Wellbeing Programme gives us the tools to identify workplace issues early.
“Our burnout indicator has decreased by eight per cent (46% to 38%); showing our people are feeling less exhausted. We also saw a big shift in the number of our people who felt they could take a day off to focus on their mental health, returning to work refreshed.
Our latest Wellbeing Tick survey results show:
Contact is committed to making things better
“Contact has committed to the wellbeing of its people by investing time, money and resources in them and the results are showing. Yes, there is a still work to do because cultural change takes time, but Contact is paving the way,” says Wellbeing Tick founder Philly Powell.
Constant evolution
“Our people are the heart and soul of Contact, and whilst we are really pleased with results so far, we need to keep evolving. We haven’t got everything right yet, but we are on a journey, and we are committed.” says Jan.
Media enquiries
Jody Bowman
Senior Communications Advisor
M: 021 029 53732
E: jody.bowman@contactenergy.co.nz
About Contact
Contact Energy is one of New Zealand’s largest energy retailer and generators. We generated 8.3 terawatt hours of electricity from hydro, geothermal and gas in the last financial year and have over 550,000 customers with electricity, gas and broadband connections. Our vision is to build a better Aotearoa New Zealand by leading New Zealand’s decarbonisation journey. Website: contact.co.nz
About Wellbeing Tick
Philly Powell launched the Wellbeing Tick in 2021, Aotearoa’s first workplace wellbeing accreditation programme designed to raise the bar and set the standard for best practice. Philly’s committed to working together with Kiwi workplaces to help transform the dire state of wellbeing in Aotearoa, along with holding organisation’s to account for any risk work pose’s on their people’s wellbeing. Philly has 20 years HR experience and passionately advocates for the ripple effect workplace wellbeing can have on individual, family and community wellbeing.