Gold medals for Mayo companies
TWO Mayo companies have received gold medals at the Irish Heart Foundation’s recent Healthy Eating and Active @ Work Awards.
Baxter Healthcare, Castlebar, and Allergen Pharmaceuticals, Westport, were both presented with the Gold Active @ Work Award by the Minister for Health Pormotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.
The ceremony, held in Dublin recently, celebrates how Irish businesses are fighting back against the World Health Organisation’s prediction that by 2030 Ireland will be the most obese nation in Europe by promoting healthy workplace practices among their staff.
President of the Irish Heart Foundation, Dr. Kate McGarry, said that it is through initiatives such as these that we will be able to reverse the trend of obesity in Ireland and help people live fuller, healthier lives.
As the national charity fighting heart disease and stroke, the Irish Heart Foundation believes that healthy workplace practices can play key roles in fostering an obesity prevention environment whereby individuals, families and communities are empowered to make healthier choices and promote healthier lifestyles.
Employers who encourage and promote a healthy workplace can improve productivity, cut down on absenteeism through sickness, and help combat the growth of obesity in Irish people.
Companies can actively tackle Ireland’s growing obesity problem by promoting healthier behaviours in their workplaces and through their awards programme, the Irish Heart Foundation annually recognises companies who are actively promoting measures designed to encourage their employees to pursue healthier lifestyles.
In total, 47 companies were certified this year by the Irish Heart Foundation under their Healthy Eating Awards to provide and promote healthy meal options in their restaurants. Since the programme began, up to 450 companies have been certified, benefiting 400,000 employees nationwide.
Meanwhile, the newer Active @ Work Award, founded in 2013, was presented to 25 companies in recognition of efforts to boost employee physical activity levels at work. Promoting an active workforce has the potential to reduce sick days by as much as 27% and drive down absenteeism by up to 20%.
The Healthy Eating Award is valid for two years and the Active @ Work Award for one year, and the new graded system of gold, silver and bronze is designed to encourage companies to set their targets high, continue to promote healthy living and strive for the gold medal standard.