Preventive health care worldwide
In developing their health programs, the Henkel companies emphasize different aspects, depending on national and cultural factors. The programs ranged from non-smoker seminars and information on stress management to health check-ups and AIDS prevention.
In 2009, several thousand employees around the world took part in activities focusing on health topics such as bowel, skin or breast cancer, healthy nutrition, addiction prevention, stress management, or back exercises. Fitness and sport opportunities are also offered, as well as balanced meals in company catering facilities. In many cases the health-promoting programs often reach out beyond the company gates to include employees’ families and the local community.
The activities listed in the table provide an overview of the wide variety of health initiatives.
| Country / Region | Acitivity |
|
Brazil |
Gymnastics at workplace: Employee sensitization for health topics |
|
India |
Gratis health check for employees |
|
Indonesia |
Health forum for employees, for example topic “stress at workplace” |
|
Lebanon |
Non-smoking Initiative |
|
Germany |
"Health" working group; various preventive measures, e.g. cancer prevention and back exercises |
|
Hungary |
Health insurance for all employees; establishment of company sport clubs |
|
USA |
Purchase of automatic external defilibrillators (AED) to help prevent sudden death from cardiac arrest, training of first aid providers in handling the equipment |
|
USA |
Free flu shots and regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks |
|
Asia |
To implement occupational health standards, a two-member team – a specialist in occupational medicine from Henkel in Düsseldorf and the regional manager for safety, health and environmental protection – advised sites in China, India, Indonesia, Korea and Thailand about health risks, prevention and medical care. The two-day program includes an assessment of the medical equipment, evaluation of the suitability of emergency measures, and optimization of care for employees in acute situations. Close collaboration between the sites and the local medical institution and doctors s is a key element of the program. |
|
South Africa, Kenya |
In many African countries, HIV/AIDS has become one of the greatest social challenges in the history of the continent. Henkel South Africa has responded early by introducing an HIV/ AIDS policy, which was developed in collaboration with health officials and representatives of local employee organizations, trade unions, and the nongovernmental organization Khanya Family Centre. The program focuses on prevention by raising employee awareness. Education about how AIDS is transmitted is also aimed at employees who work with HIV-positive people. Events organized include discussions on the status and spread of the disease and lectures by doctors on prevention. In addition to emphasizing preventive measures, the policy’s objective is to work against discrimination and stigmatization of employees affected. |
|
India |
Also in India, breaking through the taboo that surrounds the HIV/ AIDS is one of the major challenges. Here, Henkel is a partner of the SNS Foundation, a nongovernmental organization in India offering a number of services. At the Henkel site in Gurgaon, for example, it organizes health courses and a weekly consultation hour, from which the local population also benefits. |
|
Germany |
Since May 2007, a plant agreement on heath management has been in effect at our Düsseldorf site. It focuses on raising the awareness of employees and managerial staff with regard to the importance of health. It also includes concrete measures for promoting health in the workplace, such as ergonomic improvements and special training courses, and for helping employees to recuperate from illness. Health management is a task that involves company doctors, human resources managers, occupational health and safety officers, members of works councils, and managers. Many sites also offer health promotion activities, or special activity weeks for shift workers. |