World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a significant tool to raise awareness of how to make work safe and healthy and of the need to raise the political profile of occupational safety and health. 28 April is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.
Theme of World Day for safety and health at work
This year’s theme is “Act together to build a positive safety and health culture”.
Historical Background
In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO), began to observe World Day in order to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalizing on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue.
This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO, as documented in the Conclusions of the International Labour Conference in June 2003.
Emerging risks at work
New and emerging occupational risks may be caused by technical innovation or by social or organizational change, such as:
● New technologies and production processes, e.g. nanotechnology, biotechnology
● New working conditions, e.g. higher workloads, work intensification from downsizing, poor conditions associated with migration for work, jobs in the informal economy
● Emerging forms of employment, e.g. self-employment, outsourcing, temporary contracts
Companies such as Microsoft and Facebook are doing a great job by providing several other perks to their employees encouraging a healthy and lively work environment.
1. Microsoft- Perks include health cover, flexible work schedules and childcare plus an extensive network of social clubs.
2. Facebook- As a parent, Mark Zuckerberg’s keen to support others throughout the company by offering a four-month paid parental leave policy plus a $4,000 “Baby Cash” bonus to employees with a newborn. Facebook’s acknowledged as a company that really knows how to take care of its employees.
3. Google- Free food on campus; a gym with free workout classes; celebrity talks; cooking classes; massage therapists etc. The list of perks available at Google is undeniably impressive.
Conclusion
Here are few ideas to boost up the work environment-
1. Gift of Gratitude
This is probably one of the most suggested actions that you’ll come across to show your gratitude to your employees. Everybody craves some appreciation, and the impact of a verbal or handwritten “Thank You” is unparalleled to any other form.
2. Sing those Happy Birthdays
Sending a generic email on the birthdays of your employees (although is better than nothing), is not enough. You gotta make them feel special on their special day. And the good old “happy birthday to you” song and a cake never fails to make your employees feel recognized.
3. Recognition Delayed is Recognition Denied
Your employees are digital natives and they are used to experiencing instant results in all spheres of their lives. They want to be recognized and they want to be recognized right away.
4. The Classic Wall of Fame Moment
Having a wall of fame in the office where the achievements or accomplishments are displayed for the entire staff will be an absolute topping on the employee recognition cake. It will make the appreciation even more notable and valuable.
Corporations should come up with more innovative ideas of making 9 to 5 jobs interesting. Perks of such kind encourage the employees.