BSG (Africa) overall winners of the Discovery Health Sunday Times Healthy Company Index

The Index is the first survey of its kind to find out how healthy South African companies are, and award those companies that have taken the initiative to keep their employees healthy and offer them a healthy environment in which to work.

"Winning this award, in addition to our consistently excellent performance in the Deloitte Best Company To Work For awards, shows that we provide an exceptional platform and productive environment in which our staff can work. That allows them to assist our clients to make significant improvements and changes to their business through technology and people on a daily basis" says Jurie Schoeman, client engagement executive for BSG (Africa).

Assessing the health of corporate SA

Discovery has partnered with the University of Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand and Dr Ron Goetzel (director of the Emory University Institute for Health and Productivities Studies) to assess the health status of corporate South Africa through the Discovery Health Sunday Times Healthy Company Index. The Index is able to give companies an insight into the health of their employees and how motivated they are to keep this level of health and fitness.

"Our company culture is built on investing in our staff and providing them with an environment that is challenging, rewarding and that empowers our staff to make decisions - we are committed to help our staff unlock their potential and accelerate their careers with us. This is reflected in our investment in employee wellness and health. We entered this competition to understand how we compare to other companies, in order to better understand what we could do better - needless to say we're blown away by the results!" says Schoeman.

"We have established the very successful BSG Energade Triathlon Series - encouraging everyone, including our staff and clients, to focus on healthy living via exercise. One of our permanent employees, Chris Felgate, an Elite Athlete, employed to support wellness internally and externally to our clients - through healthy eating plans; keep healthy tips; exercise plans & motivation especially through the winter months - not many companies can claim to make this sort of an investment in well-being!

Have a massage

"Other company initiatives include things like employee office massages, Rest and Recuperation and the Wind up / Wind down policies. These recognise that we do very rewarding but also challenging work in assisting clients to change their businesses through the use of technology, and these are ways in which we can recognise great contributions and allow our staff to unwind and relax. We will definitely use feedback from this year's survey to find even better ways to enable our people to do great things."

BSG's healthy company ethos is supported by all in the company and receives full support from their chief executive officer, Greg Reis. He not only competes in all of the events in the Triseries, but is also a passionate runner having taken part in his 2nd Comrades Marathon this past weekend, and could be referred to as the chief endurance officer of the company.
Companies are ranked and awarded according to the following categories at an exclusive awards ceremony:

• Healthiest company
  
• Healthiest Workplace
  
• Greatest Health Knowledge
  
• Highest Motivation to Improve Health
  
• Healthiest Eating Habits
  
• Best Shape (BMI)
  
• Most Physically Active
  
• Most smoke-free company
  
• Most Conducive Working Environment.

For more information on BSG (Africa) go to www.bsg.co.za.