MOL Logistics Vital to the Future

At MOL Logistics, we believe it is important that our colleagues are and remain healthy and enjoy working. In this context, our company launched the project in November 2019 LDC Vital to the Future. With support from the European Social Fund, we were able to realise this project! We talk to Madelon van Beek, HR Advisor.

As part of our mission, we strive to ensure that our employees feel safe and can move freely within a positive working environment. As an MOL, we also have to deal with social developments, such as an ageing population, employees getting older and people having to work longer. All this requires flexibility and adaptability from us as an employer, but certainly also from our employees. Employees must be sustainably deployable. In the context of sustainable employability, we want to monitor and promote the vitality of our employees. We want to recognise early on health risks related to work, but also general health risks related to the lifestyle of our employees. After all, a vital employee enjoys his work more, is healthier, is more productive and is less prone to absenteeism. It is important that employees become aware of the major role they themselves play in vitality, lifestyle and sustainable employability. They themselves must take the helm. Of course with the right support from MOL.

Why is this project so important for MOL Logistics?

We want to ensure that everyone has the healthiest possible workplace and can enjoy it for as long as possible. Every employee should be aware of the contribution he or she can make to sustainable employability. This has been an important point of attention during our project. We hope that this will also benefit the flexible deployment of our employees now and in the future.

What steps has our company taken in the past year?

We started conducting a PMO (Preventive Medical Examination) for every employee in November 2019. Following this, various training sessions and workshops were organised. These focused, for example, on how to bend and lift when working in the warehouse, but also on how to set up your workplace in the office in the healthiest way possible (think about how to alternate sitting and standing, how to adjust your screen and chair properly, etc.). We received support in this from a number of BIG-registered advisers from our Health and Safety Service.

What role did these advisors play in the project?

In addition to setting up and conducting the PMOs, they organised the training courses and workshops. Based on their expertise, they informed our employees about sustainable employability. Hereby, employees received support both at team and individual level. Various tips and guidelines were discussed.

The PMO consists of a written questionnaire on an online portal. Based on the questions, each employee receives a personal report, and following this report, an employee can request a consultation with the advisor where goals can be set and further guidance can be sought. The employee also receives a personal dashboard. The data is collected and analysed by the external advisor and presented in a group report for MOL.

A PMO helps us to detect possible health damage among employees at an early stage, which in turn helps us to recognise health risks. Afterwards, we can immediately react and take measures to minimise the risk of future absence.

What are the concerns of the workplace surveys?

We were advised on five areas: work tasks, working hours, working methods, workload and workplace. The main findings are: adding more variety to office workers' work and taking moments to get moving more often, while limiting screen time. We have also made adjustments for a number of colleagues using ergonomic tools such as an adapted mouse, desk chair or document holders. In the context of work pressure, we continue to have periodic discussions with our employees as best we can, in the hope that we can limit an increase in work pressure.

What steps are we going to take as a company?

We remain committed to the mission we discussed earlier in this interview. In addition, the question 'where will you be in five years' time? is an important pillar for employees during performance reviews. This also applies to health and safety topics. These are points that we keep discussing and that help us to develop further within MOL.

What else can employees do to stay vital?

It is great to see that employees are increasingly taking responsibility for their own vital workplace. This sets in motion a movement that is contagious and arouses curiosity among immediate colleagues. A few people may feel burdened, but that is not necessary. We are proud when an employee shares findings with us, because only then can we take targeted action. Together, we continue to look at the possibilities.

What would you like to give applicants and new colleagues as an extra tip?

We would like applicants and new colleagues to be honest about their wishes for a healthy workplace. Discuss your wishes or ideasDo not feel encumbered, and together we will then look at the possibilities that we (can) offer.

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