In addition to promoting healthy lifestyles and exercise, wellbeing initiatives and building resilience within the SPAR workforce remain key priorities within SPAR country organisations worldwide. Today, on World Health Day, we share some of the initiatives in place in SPAR businesses.

Wellbeing a priority

With a multitude of factors affecting people’s lives including the pandemic, a cost of living crisis and the effects of war, wellbeing initiatives and building resilience within the SPAR workforce remain key priorities. SPAR UK, Spain, Austria and South Africa are some of the partners engaging with employees in this field, ensuring that their teams at any level and department are able to positively represent SPAR in front of clients and customers.

Colleagues of SPAR International had the opportunity to participate in a programme to improve their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, including sessions on nutrition and how to handle the impact of current social/economic developments and challenges. Based on the learnings from this training, SPAR country organisations can tailor this fully-developed programme to suit local requirements.

INTERSPAR Austria is a family-friendly employer

A good balance between work and family life is decisive in employee satisfaction. In 2022, the Austrian Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth awarded 77 INTERSPAR Hypermarkets, including Maximarkt locations, with the quality mark ‘berufundfamilie’ (‘work and family’). The quality mark recognises organisations that strive to ensure a family-friendly working environment. The INTERSPAR Central Office has carried the quality mark since 2014. To improve work and family life compatibility, INTERSPAR Austria implemented measures including flexible working time models, maternity leave management, manager training to support family-conscious procedures, and numerous preventive health measures.

A.F. Blakemore’s employees’ benefits package

SPAR UK partner A.F. Blakemore recognises that the success of the business depends on the motivation and commitment of its people. The organisation has set up a range of employee benefits to acknowledge and reward the successes of team members and their contributions to the business. A.F. Blakemore’s group-wide benefits package for employees includes a company pension scheme, life insurance, health cash plan, childcare voucher scheme, Cycle to Work scheme, long service awards, discounts in Blakemore Retail stores, employee volunteering opportunities, and more.

Sources: SPAR UK, SPAR Austria