Funding to support local authorities to embed workplace wellbeing has been announced by Hildegarde Naughton, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.
A fund of €300,000 is available to local authorities for strategic initiatives aimed at supporting and maintaining staff wellbeing.
In line with the Government’s National Framework for Healthy Workplaces, the funding will help local authorities to promote and protect psychological and physical health in the workplace, and to empower employees to make informed choices about their own wellbeing.
The funding will support local authorities’ wellbeing strategies, which focus on mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, social wellbeing and financial wellbeing.
Local authorities can apply for funding for specific programmes and initiatives that form part of their wellbeing strategy or support strategic aims to:
- create safe and healthy work environments that foster a culture of positive wellbeing;
- improve the general wellbeing of local authorities’ diverse workforce and ensure that wellbeing is seen as everyone’s responsibility; and,
- embed wellbeing as a central part of strategic priorities for management across all local authority functions.
The wellbeing funding programme is being coordinated by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). The funding announcement was made at an event held by the LGMA and attended by representatives from local authorities, which discussed the importance of supporting workplace wellness and employee wellbeing and heard examples of initiatives from other organisations.
Announcing the funding, Hildegarde Naughton, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy said:
“We spend a significant proportion of our day engaged in our jobs so of course our workplaces have a strong impact on our wellbeing.
“We all deserve supportive working environments that promote physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing, and I’m delighted that the Local Government Management Agency is taking such a proactive approach to helping local authorities to implement effective strategies to benefit their staff.
“This funding from Healthy Ireland, aligned with the Government’s National Framework for Healthy Workplaces, will also help employees to make informed choices that improves their own wellbeing.
“I look forward to hearing about the progress of the initiatives that will be supported by this funding and the positive impact they are having on the overall health and wellbeing of staff.”
Paul Dunne, Chief Executive, Local Government Management Agency said:
“The funding announced today will significantly help local authorities to build on their strategic efforts to embed wellbeing across their organisations, at all levels, and across all functions. Embedding a positive health and wellbeing culture in a local authority has benefits not only for employees but also for the vital public services local authorities provide as workplace wellbeing can help to engage, motivate and retain employees and improve performance and productivity.”