In a bid to tackle rising work-related stress and blur the lines between professional and personal life, Ministry of Labour has unveiled a dedicated website for workplace wellness.
Minister of Labour Colin Jordan told a press conference to launch the website: “A very important medium of communication” for an issue that concerns everyone. The website, workplacewellness.bb, built by Deepak Thani and his team at web developer Caribyte Inc., offers various resources for employees and employers alike.
The National Workplace Wellness Policy has been in development for two years. Initially spearheaded by the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and developed with Professor Dwayne Devonish, the policy was later adopted by the government as the national framework for workplace wellness.
Minister Jordan emphasised the need for structured workplace wellness policies, citing rising work-related stress and the increasing overlap between professional and personal life.
“We live in a society with many stresses, where the lines between work and private life are becoming blurred. People need assistance to live fulfilled and balanced lives,” he said.
The policy includes nine dimensions of workplace wellness and is part of a three-year action plan. The first year focused on awareness and promotion, while the second phase, including the website launch, targets stakeholder engagement.
“We encourage persons to take advantage of this tool to ensure both personal and workplace wellness,” Minister Jordan stated.
The ministry has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Health, and media outlets such as CBC’s Mornin’ Barbados and Starcom Network’s Road Runner to promote the initiative.
A key event was the Workplace Wellness in Action Forum, hosted with the Barbados Workers’ Union at Solidarity House in October 2024. Jordan announced that this event will now be held annually to sustain momentum around the policy.
He urged all Barbadians to familiarise themselves with the policy and share its benefits: “If you avail yourself of the information, then you’re able to share it and guide others to it.”
Shakeda Williams, executive assistant to the general secretary of the BWU and head of member engagement, expressed the union’s commitment to the initiative.
“The Barbados Workers’ Union is extremely pleased with how far we’ve come on this journey to national wellness. We’ve invested in research, analysis, and effort, and we are grateful to launch our website today,” she said.
Williams described the policy as groundbreaking, positioning Barbados as a global model. “Gone are the days of viewing safety and health solely as physical issues. Workplace wellness now includes home-life stressors, climate change, and societal challenges such as crime.”
Minister Jordan also encouraged public engagement with the website, describing it as a dynamic platform that will evolve over time.
“I encourage everyone—at home, work, in the community—to engage with this website. Download the material. We will update it over time and look forward to new, innovative activities in the coming year.”
(LG)
