NSW-based Not For Profit aged care operator Scalabrini, which last year won 'Best Workplace Award' in Macquarie University's staff engagement The Voice Project, has developed an interesting new initiative aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of employees.
The initiative, which is part of Scalabrini's religious and events calendar, involved staff at each site measuring their steps for STEPtember, which raises funds for people with cerebral palsy. Last August, CEO Richard de Haast and CFO Doug MacColl had cooked lunch and breakfast at every home for Aged Care Appreciation Day. "It went down a trick," Richard told The SOURCE.
So when the team devised a plan to aggregate all the steps taken in each home with the two homes with the greatest number of steps to again have Richard and Doug cook breakfast and lunch with a "twist".
"The site with the overall highest number of steps got to select an outfit for my CFO and I to wear," Richard said.
Once staff began to participate, "boy did it explode," Richard said. Teams became "hyper competitive" and they "got fit, and got mobile".
Eventually, the Chipping Norton team were declared the winners and selected 1920s flapper outfits for Richard and Doug to wear.
"The social media accounts of our staff and resident families took strain as hundreds of photos were taken with us with tons of laughter," Richard added.
Another way that aged care management are digging deep to find new ways to engage and retain staff, even if it means putting their own pride aside for a few hours.
Look out for Richard in our first edition of SATURDAY for 2024, out on 2 February. Subscribe here.
Richard will also be speaking at the LEADERS SUMMIT, on 19-20 March 2024 at the Sydney Hyatt Regency. Book here.
