TAKING care of your employees should be second to none and Hampshire County Council has proved that by scooping a national award for improving the well-being and health of its staff.

The authority clinched the Wellbeing Award from the Public Sector People Managers' Association (PPMA) for its development of actions to help identify health risks and ways to tackle them, raise awareness about health, encourage physical activity, improve and support the environment and support a work/life balance.

Projects included improving attendance workshops and actions designed to address sickness absence issues, setting up a website on the county council's intranet dedicated to workplace health, organising special 'health awareness' days and introducing workplace activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, walking workout and five-a-side football that staff pay a reduced rate for and fit in around their working day.

The council's prize is a year's free subscription for 10,000 key staff to a helpline operated by health professionals that offers advice and information and a year's free subscription to an online health resource that helps staff identify ways to improve their well-being.