CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

Employee well-being

Some years ago, AECI's executive committee took a strategic decision to encourage all employees to join AECI's Medical Aid Society. To facilitate this, a low-cost membership option was introduced and, as a result, the vast majority of Group employees and their dependants now have access to affordable medical aid cover. Membership of the medical aid is viewed as the first step in moving from a fragmented approach to employee well-being to a consolidated and holistic system.

It is intended that, ultimately, employee assistance programmes, occupational health initiatives, HIV/Aids and other chronic illness interventions, stress management and overall employee health and well-being will be integrated into an overall care system. This should have a positive effect on the cost of providing quality employee benefits and care in future years. In addition, costs associated with factors such as disability cover and employee absenteeism, and impacts on retirement funds, should reduce as a result. Work has already begun on this with a formal audit of the health and wellness landscape of the Group.

In addition to Group-based initiatives, each AECI company has employee assistance programmes catering for its specific needs. Individual counselling is available for HIV/Aids, trauma, family-related matters, addiction, bereavement and stress-related issues in the workplace or at home.