Capital One – Health Matters

The approach was multifaceted, via blood pressure testing and quitting smoking workshops through to subsidised Virgin Active gym membership and self defence classes. As well as the obvious personal benefits it was hoped that the scheme would address individual workplace issues around recruitment, retention, absenteeism and sickness as well as cementing Capital One’s position as an ‘employer of choice’ in Nottingham.

This was a chance to evolve into a ‘healthier’ Capital One via a wide-ranging programme of various health initiatives to incentivise associates via events and lifestyle changes – both at work and at home - in addition to new management systems and updating company policies. 

 Health Matters focuses on two initiatives:
1. An enhanced stress and depression rehabilitation programme, designed to help associates back to work through the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
2. A well-being programme available to all staff with a range of on-site and off-site health events to help associates stay fit and healthy.

The Stress and Depression Rehabilitation Scheme addresses long term absence caused by stress or depression. Associates currently suffering with these illnesses now have access to a private psychologist. This offering has seen multiple associates return to work after a prolonged period of sickness absence.

The well-being programme enables associates to look at their individual lifestyles and review them via: Mammograms for associates those over 40, blood pressure testing, two Quit smoking workshops – “Allen Carr’s easy way to quit smoking”, on-site “Slimming World” classes, nutritional advice and flu jabs; Virgin Active gym advised on fitness and gym membership; cholesterol testing; and on-site yoga and self defence classes.

Just one year on, Health Matters has already exceeded expectations, reducing sickness absence in the operations department and engaging associates with healthy living.  The Stress and Depression Rehabilitation Scheme has already shown positive results: Associates treated by the psychologist have felt able to return and continue to stay at work; as a percentage of total sickness absence long-term sickness has reduced from 40% to 20%; associate feedback says we have given them and their families a new chance at life - not something these individuals feel they would have achieved themselves.