New awards celebrate wellbeing
“A good working environment has positive effects on our health, wellbeing and job satisfaction."
A new awards ceremony has been launched to celebrate veterinary workplaces with a focus on wellbeing.
The Vet Wellbeing Awards were created by SPVS and the Mind Matters Initiative. They are open to UK practices, branch surgeries or other organisations that employ veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses.
Stress management is a legal health and safety requirement. Research also shows happy, healthy staff have improved productivity and retention.
Dr Elinor O’Connor, a senior lecturer in occupational psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, helped to develop the awards.
She said: “A good working environment has positive effects on our health, wellbeing and job satisfaction. In contrast, work-related stress can cause physical and psychological ill-health, and in turn compromise organisational effectiveness and productivity.
“Data from the Health and Safety Executive shows that 11.7 million working days were lost to work-related stress in the UK in 2015-16. The Vet Wellbeing Awards will recognise veterinary workplaces that actively support colleagues’ wellbeing, as well as enabling the profession to share ideas for increasing wellbeing in veterinary work.”
The awards recognise businesses that go a step beyond their legal requirements; workplaces where happiness and health are valued, there are systems in place for motivation, staff are engaged, communication is positive, and there is a commitment to being a better place to work.
Entries to the awards can be made now via www.vetwellbeingawards.org.uk and the deadline is 24 November 2017. Prizes for each category include two registrations and banquet tickets for SPVS/VPMA Congress 2018.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
