We caught up with Josh Lambert from
Pinnacle Health
to talk about how stage 2 restrictions have affected their business and the steps they have taken to assist their clients.
1. What does supporting local business during COVID-19 mean to you?
Supporting local business is crucially important. Most places that we eat, drink, meet, socialise, are entertained, and receive services are usually locally owned small to medium businesses. We are big believers in the power of community and the social elements that contribute to the wellbeing of a community and its people, so at this crazy time it's more important than ever to support local businesses.
This can be achieved by experiencing the new ways in which the local business are delivering their products and services (eg take away fine dining, virtual gym classes, telehealth physio consultations etc) or even pre purchasing services and vouchers (with potential discounts) to ensure improved cashflow for the businesses.
2. How have you been able to shift the way you do business to accommodate your clients?
For the workplace wellness or corporate health part of our business, we are offering similar services but with a remote or virtual delivery. Flu Vaccinations are delivered via voucher to redeem in pharmacies, rather than in the workplace as per traditional delivery. Seminars, workshops, classes and assessments are delivered by telehealth or teleconference set up.
3. What can we expect from a telehealth appointment? How do they work? How much do they cost? Can they be claimed on health insurance?
Telehealth appointments are half the normal price of a standard physiotherapy appointment, as they cannot yet be claimed on private health insurance (watch this space!).
4. What challenges do you think the working from home workforce is currently experiencing from a health perspective?
See our summary
attached, but workstation set up (and the pending musculoskeletal issues), social isolation, anxiety, depression, less movement, poorer diet and eating behaviours, relationship stress, lack of sleep, increased alcohol intake and less access to exercise options are commonplace right now.
5. What responsibility do you think employers who have wellness packages have at this time?
Continually communicating with employees and offering supports for home based working. The
attached
have been the most popular, particularly the working from home desk assessments via telehealth.
Laptops on couches (and no keyboards and mice to be found in shops) leads to neck and back pain. The workshops (delivered via zoom or your preferred platform) are also a great way to feel connected to the team whilst charing challenges that team members are facing right now. Plus of course learning practical ways to combat these challenges. Flu Vaccinations are of course important.
6. Should we re-visit our employee wellness package offering at this stage?
Now is an opportune time to show your versatility and flexibility as an employer. Ernst & Young (client) were able to pivot quickly, and have had over six hundred employees dial into virtual classes or workshops since Wednesday last week. I think it's a great time to show off your ability to be agile as an employer, and from our early estimates we expect many employers to continue with virtual or remote access to parts of the wellbeing program long after the world goes back to "normal".
Leila Chalk
is the principal solicitor at Forty Four Degrees Lawyers and Consultants, assisting businesses in responding to COVID-19 challenges. 
