What does BGM mean and what is it about?
BGM stands for Betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement or Corporate Health Management, encompassing systematic and sustainable strategies and measures within a company to promote the health and well-being of employees. Alongside occupational safety and corporate integration management, workplace health promotion is considered the third pillar of BGM.
Why is comprehensive corporate health management so important to us at Ergosign?
For us, Corporate Health Management is important both from a human perspective and from a business point of view. Satisfied, healthy, and happy colleagues have a positive impact on the work environment, which in turn increases motivation, performance, and productivity. This ultimately leads to higher customer satisfaction and, consequently, to long-term business success. Additionally, we also want our employees to enjoy working with us.
In this context, it is particularly important to us to establish a holistic corporate health management system, as this is the only way to ensure its success. A healthy coexistence is consciously practiced within our company, and the implementation of our Corporate Health measures is promoted both individually and far beyond the usual workplace safety standards—and this from the very beginning.
When considering the different generations, it quickly becomes apparent that younger generations place increased value on the topic of health. Not only physical health and nutrition, but also mental health are coming into focus. As a company, it is important to consider these values in daily decision-making. This is where the management approach of Corporate Health Management comes into play.
Although this area may initially increase costs, the resulting benefits are significant — especially with regard to the resulting competitive advantages. These include, among other things, higher employee retention and positive impacts on recruitment. Our goal is to achieve a higher level of identification with the company among employees, to express appreciation, and thus to increase satisfaction in the long term. Potential applicants are now consciously looking for companies that offer exactly that. Ultimately, we also benefit from a higher referral rate. Therefore, we also reward every successful referral with a bonus through our 'Bring-a-friend' concept. A portion of the bonus is always donated to a charitable organization.
Good intentions are great, but how do they become tangible?
Regarding occupational safety, all our modern sites have ergonomically equipped workstations and the latest hardware and software. Additionally, our cozy seating areas and creative rooms offer a varied work environment. But Corporate Health at Ergosign goes much further. Beyond fulfilling legal requirements for occupational safety, promoting mental health and physical well-being is also crucial. Since both areas are interrelated, it is essential to foster both aspects in a holistic context. We promote physical health through an EGYM Wellpass membership, allowing employees to enhance their fitness where they only pay a small monthly contribution. This benefit not only encourages physical activity but also allows for the exploration of new sports or massages. Additionally, our sites regularly participate in (company) runs, meet for soccer games, or arrange climbing or hiking outings.
In the realm of physical health, we also offer subsidized job bikes, providing employees with an eco-friendly transportation alternative that also promotes personal fitness. Healthy nutrition plays an equally important role in physical well-being. Therefore, we ensure a diverse range of food options at our internal (and external) events, accommodating various dietary preferences. Naturally, we also have the obligatory fruit basket.
Moreover, in spring 2023, we hosted a Cook & Learn event led by a nutritionist and supported by our health insurance provider. This day focused on healthy eating and meal prep for the workplace. After a theoretical session on the importance of macronutrients, the learned concepts were immediately put into practice in our kitchen by cooking various dishes. This cooking course even led to the creation of an internal recipe app, which you can read more about here.
Regarding mental health, we offer both internal and external training and seminars on topics such as time and self-management or self-efficacy. Additionally, our Persons of Trust have undergone training as "Mental Health First Aiders." This qualification equips them with the knowledge to appropriately support employees who seek their help. It is also crucial for the advising person to know and set their boundaries, protecting their own mental health and clearly identifying when professional support is needed.
At Ergosign, we have established preventive measures to promote mental health. Our working hours are flexible and can be adjusted as needed and in consultation. Overtime is not the norm but will be compensated 1:1. Moreover, our employees have the opportunity to take a workation within the EU or Switzerland. Working from a holiday location not only promotes relaxation but also ensures childcare during extended family vacations, for example, during school holidays. We offer workations for up to four weeks per year. Additionally, we have developed various time-out models. After 2.5 years with the company, employees can take advantage of a time-out.
We also support families with a childcare cost subsidy. This benefit is not directly related to corporate health promotion but aims to provide financial relief. Considering the challenges families face today (e.g., lack of childcare options, high daycare costs), the indirect impact on mental health becomes clear. With our subsidy, we aim to support our Ergosign families financially and lift their mental load. Additionally, we allow, of course, with the respective office's consent, pets at the workplace. This also helps reduce mental load by ensuring the care of their pets.
Reviewing the measures mentioned, it becomes clear that workplace health promotion holds a special place in our company. Every person is unique, goes through different life phases, and has different needs depending on the circumstances. Therefore, it is essential to offer diverse measures that employees can choose from to find what suits them best. Our goal is to make our measures as individualized as possible to meet various needs as effectively as possible. Only when the offered measures are accepted, Corporate Health Management can be successful.
We are very open and welcome ideas and suggestions from our teams regarding desired changes or alternative offers, ensuring continuous economically feasible development in this area. After careful evaluation of the desired measures, implementation follows, if possible. The introduction of the EGYM Wellpass membership is an example of a requested measure. This request came from several locations, making it clear that we needed to address this innovation. After careful review and numerous internal consultations, we were able to fulfill this request, providing our team with a more flexible and versatile fitness offer. 💪