NMC has implemented several initiatives aimed at promoting and managing employee wellbeing to ensure that health issues impacting on individual productivity are managed. Employees are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle and are provided with support in times of crises.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CARE
NMC has outsourced its Occupational Health Care to Worker Wellness to ensure that all employees’ health needs are met. Worker Wellness is contracted to conduct annual medicals on all employees, and pay monthly visits to sites to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and other chronic conditions.

A monthly column, Siyakhathala – We Care, in NMC’s internal magazine is dedicated to health and wellness topics.

HIV/AIDS
NMC acknowledges the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa, and the impact thereof on the workplace. The company has implemented a voluntary HIV testing drive, facilitated by Careworks, on a two yearly basis.

The primary objectives are to create a better understanding of the causes of HIV and AIDS, but more importantly to ensure that – – negative employees remain negative – positive employees are kept productive, healthy and happy for as long as possible, and – HIV positive employees receive excellent and accessible HIV treatment, patient management and support NMC has for a number of years paid for the AZT drugs necessary to keep HIV positive employees healthy.

WORKER WELLNESS DAYS
NMC introduced its annual Wellness Day in May 2008 as an enhancement to its worker wellness programme. Hosted in conjunction with Discovery Health, the Wellness Day is aimed at promoting a greater health awareness and identifying potential health risks, in particular hypertension, diabetes and fitness levels. Employee participation is voluntary and employees are guaranteed confidentiality.

EMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE
Drug abuse, stress and abuse are common problems many employees grapple with. NMC offers assistance to these employees through its Employee Assistance Program, thus ensuring that the most appropriate rehabilitation and counselling is provided