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74
Telkom Annual Report 2009
Safety, health and environment (continued)
Of particular
percentage was similar to the previous
year but the diastolic (heart pumping) rate
increased from 15% to 25% as a result
of increased cardio-vascular illnesses;
increased stress levels and poor lifestyles.
# Cholesterol profile: There was a 7%
increase in the at-risk category, again due
to lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise
and incorrect eating habits. This profile will
be a priority going forward in our wellness
campaigns.
# Diabetes profile: There was an 11%
improvement in the diabetes chronic
profile, thanks to regular testing and the
fact that diabetes remains a high focus
area. However, we are concerned that low
blood sugar levels rose from 28% to 37%
and this will be another key focus area in
our awareness campaigns.
# Obesity profile: This is a high risk area
for us as 65% of the employees tested were
overweight or obese. As a result, the
importance of lifestyle modification is a
priority for us in the new financial year.
# Opportunistic diseases: We are
pleased to note that only six cases of TB
were reported in the year under review
and all cases were successfully treated.
concern
is the 17.6% increase in stress-related cases
due to work related relations, poor performance,
incapacity and job security.
The following table shows the diagnostic causal factors for the EAP referrals
Diagnosis 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 % variance
Crisis and trauma 41.7% 41.3% 40.5% (1.9%)
Family relationships and divorce 15.4% 17.6% 16.1% (8.5%)
Stress related 7.6% 6.8% 8.0% 17.6%
Psychological wellness
In the year under review we transformed
this section of the Wellness programme into
a more proactive, competency-based
approach, highlighted by the following:
• Some 1,216 employees and their
dependants were referred to our
psychological counselling interventions,
a 10% decrease on the previous year.
This decrease is, we believe, largely
due to the fact that employees did, from
time to time, use their own private
psychologists. From the referrals,
4,132 sessions were conducted at an
average of 3.4 sessions per referred
patient at a cost to us of R1.8 million.
• Of particular concern is the 3.8%
increase in cases in the ‘other
psychological illnesses’, such as
psycho-sexual, personality disorders
and related psychosis. This could be the
tip of the iceberg as some of
the problems experienced by our
employees are of such a sensitive nature
that they are discussed with their own
psychologists.
• The stress category (which includes
work-related poor performance,
incapacity, job security etc) constitutes
almost 14% of all diagnoses and the
293 cases recorded during the year is
an increase of 17.6% on the previous
year. This is a major challenge for us in
the next financial year, particularly
in view of the roll-out of Project
Renaissance and the resultant
uncertainty of job security and fears of
job losses.
Preventative interventions
Five key workshops were held during the
year:
• Stress and resilience;
• Team and value development;
• Trauma and resilience;
• Bereavement therapy; and
• Conflict management.