There are several practical ways that road freight businesses can support workplace wellbeing, including health and safety tools, providing wellness support, professional development and business continuity planning.
The five steps below will ensure your business is as resilient as possible. Even if some of these tools aren’t the right fit for your particular company, completing a wellbeing audit can still be a great way of future proofing your firm.
Register for Transporting New Zealand’s health and safety and COVID-19 advisories
We work closely with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, ACC, WorkSafe and local authorities to share notices, warnings and operating guidance with the industry as soon as possible. Our health and safety and COVID-19 advisories are available to members and non-members.
Introduce or update your health, safety and wellness policies
Key considerations include:
COVID-19 and other illnesses can easily exhaust an employee’s statutory sick leave entitlements. It is helpful to consider how your business will manage these situations (unpaid leave, annual leave taken in advance, discretionary sick leave). MBIE advice on leave and pay entitlements during COVID-19 is available here.
Employers have a legal obligation to provide a process for employees to request a flexible working arrangement. You can download the Transporting New Zealand flexible working policy template here, or contact us directly for advice.
Half of all road freight employees report they don’t receive HR support or regular engagement with their manager or employer. You can access free, up to date advice from MBIE on scheduling regular catch-ups, resources for positive conversations and reaching agreement and performance appraisals.
Introduce or update your Business Continuity and Crisis Management Plan
Proactive planning can help your business through challenges including natural emergencies, unavailability of key staff or vehicles, and involvement in road accidents.
Templates, guides and free workshops are available from Civil Defence.
Make mental health resources available in your workplace
Read and share the Mental Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Workplace Resource: A guide for workplace leaders on wellbeing at work during COVID-19. You can request hard-copies here.
Share Transporting New Zealand's 'Ways to wellbeing' brochure and poster resources with your employees and colleagues.
Speak with Employee Assistance Programme provider about their counselling services. EAP services are a relatively low-cost way to support employees on as “as-needed” basis.
Transporting New Zealand has partnered with EAP Services to provide a discount to members, waiving the $350 establishment fee and implementation fee. Contact info@transporting.nz or 04 471 8283 for an application form that incorporates this discount.
Support your staff with professional development opportunities
Consider professional development opportunities for your staff. While pay generally ranks highest on employees’ work priorities, workplace culture and career progression have also featured in recent industry surveys.
Transporting New Zealand’s Road to Success programme allows your drivers to earn nationally recognised NZQA microcredentials and road transport certificates. Further information is available here.
Education providers like MITO, Southern Institute of Technology and Open Polytechnic also offer low or zero fees options to support a successful career in road transport. They offer long distance and face-to-face learning.
Get your business involved in a Transporting New Zealand Industry Sector Group. These groups are an easy way to build industry knowledge and connections, as well as providing valuable input to government and transport adjacent sectors. You can contact our General Manager Dom Kalasih for more information at dom@transporting.nz or 04 471 8285.
