Vital Health Foods awarded "Healthiest Medium-Sized Company" by Sunday Times and Discovery Health

Wilmarie Beyers and Annetjie Bacher

Known as the largest survey of workplace wellness in South Africa, 110 companies participated in the 2012 Discovery Healthy Company Index, in total 19 011 (24%) from 80 809 employees participated in and completed the online survey.

The Discovery Healthy Company Index was developed as a joint initiative between Discovery Vitality, the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Cape Town, and Professor Ron Goetzel of Emory University in the US as well as Thomson Reuters. It aims to assess and understand the health status of South African employees.

Commenting on the award, Vital Health Foods Managing Director, George Grieve says, "This award reiterates the importance that employers should not only invest in the development of their employees but their physical wellbeing as well. All business owners understand the value of healthy and productive employees."

During 2011, group management for Vital, initiated regular health and wellness workshops, health days and health screenings for their employees, as a means to educate and improve corporate productivity. With the use of onsite health professionals and dieticians, employees were encouraged to live healthy active lifestyles by gymming or partaking in Pilates exercises, and undertaking regular consultations with in-house dieticians.

"The 2012 survey results show that South African companies are on the right track for promoting good health. It is rewarding to see more and more companies rolling out wellness initiatives in the workplace. We would like to congratulate the top companies in this year's survey, and encourage many more employers to take positive steps in looking after the health and wellbeing of their most valuable asset - their employees," comments Craig Nossal, Head of Discovery Vitality Wellness.

Vital was also awarded the title of overall winner for "Most Caring Company", overall winner for "Healthiest Eating Habits", winner in the medium sized organisation categories for: "Best Wellness Facilities" and "Healthiest Employees".