Musculoskeletal Health

‘Stamp Out Aches and Pains’ Musculoskeletal health eLearning is available via SuccessFactors for you to better understand:

• What musculoskeletal disorders are and their relationship with work and lifestyle.
• How you can reduce the chance of developing musculoskeletal disorders and what you can do to help you get better more quickly.
• Where you can get support and further information.
• Includes job role specific guidance.

For colleagues without access to SuccessFactors, please access here.

A ‘Stamp Out Aches and Pains’ leaflet is available here.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) users can access eLearning which is available via SuccessFactors.

NHS 24 Musculoskeletal Help app - a free NHS app, which offers advice on common muscle, back and joint problems along with exercises and video clips to help you get moving safely.

Save 30% off OrthoSole customisable insoles and footwear which can help prevent and alleviate: Foot Fatigue; Plantar Fasciitis; Knee Pain; Back Pain; Ankle Pain; Foot Pain; Shin Splint; Circulation issues in feet.

Visit www.orthosole.com (a live chat option is available to ask any questions) and a product demonstration is available here. Use coupon code RM19 to receive 30% off.

Financial Wellbeing

Via the MyBundle+ financial wellbeing option, colleagues can access retailer discounts such as instant vouchers, reloadable cards and cashback on purchases. Visit MyBundle+ or access via PSP.

Salary Finance – via MyBundle access debt consolidation loans with competitive rates and higher chances of being accepted compared to some high street lenders, as well as financial education content.

Rowland Hill Fund – call 0345 600 4586 or visit www.rowlandhillfund.org offering financial aid to colleagues, pensioners and their families in times of need.

Stepchange - The UK's leading debt charity for expert, tailored advice and practical solutions to problem debt. Call 0800 138 1111 or visit www.stepchange.org.

Heart Health

The NHS offer free resources and services to help you assess and make improvements to your physical and mental health. For example, the Healthy Weight Calculator, as well as the Online Heart Age tool are available via the NHS LiveWell toolkit, which provides advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.

British Heart Foundation: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support.

The First Class Support Service can provide advice and tools to support you, whether you are looking to make small or bigger changes - please see the above First Class Support section for more information.

Menopause

Click here for more information from the NHS.

Our Let’s Talk Menopause campaign aims to provide a supportive environment, raise awareness, normalise menopause conversations and to provide information and practical support.

Our Let’s Talk Menopause Workplace group is open to everyone and is a space to share experiences, ask questions and help sign-post colleagues to available support.

First Class Support Menopause Toolkit

Confidential and available 24/7 for colleagues and managers seeking assistance including direct access to counselling, support articles/programmes and a comprehensive menopause toolkit.

Visit www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk or download the 'Lifeworks' app. Confidential support is also available via the helpline on 0345 266 5060 or you can ‘live chat’ via the website/app if you would prefer.

New users of the website or app can 'sign up' using a unique invitation code, which is RMG- and then your pay number, e.g. RMG-12345678.

Below are some external links for support and guidance...

• GenM - generating awareness of the menopausal symptoms and how they can impact you and your loved ones
• Henpicked - an online community that gives women a place to have their say, promote healthy debate and bring about positive change
• Menopause matters - provides information about the menopause, menopausal symptoms and treatment options
• The Daisy Network - a charity which provides support for women experiencing premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency
• Balance - My Menopause Doctor - Dr Louise Newson is a nationally recognised menopause expert who has pledged to improve GP training and understanding around the menopause
• The Latte Lounge - support, information and signposting for women

Fitness/exercise

NHS Couch to 5k: A week-by-week description of the 9-week set of Couch to 5K podcasts. Each week involves 3 runs.

NHS Better Health - get active: No matter how much you do, physical activity is good for your body and mind. Adults should aim to be active every day. Some is good – more is better still. Access tools, tips and special offers to move more every day.

Royal Mail in-house gyms: visit royalmailfitness.co.uk to see if there is a gym near you and joining contact details.

Workout from anywhere with LIFT

With custom programs and a live chat function with fitness professionals, LIFT can provide you with a full suite of fitness offerings that make working out exciting, easy and efficient. You can find out more and sign up for an account here before downloading the app via the iTunes or Google Play store.

Brain Health

To learn more about the things we can all do to reduce our personal risk of developing dementia, visit the Royal Mail Think Brain Health hub and access information, materials, signposting and the short Think Brain Health eLearning from Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Cancer

The earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat and the more likely the treatment is to be successful. So, it is important that you go to your GP as soon as possible if you have any worrying symptoms.

Visit www.cancerresearchuk.org and www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer for further information and access to useful resource materials.

Breast Cancer: Visit www.wearitpink.org, www.breastcancernow.org or www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer for further information and access to useful resource materials.

ITV Lorraine’s Change And Check breast cancer awareness campaign urges women to get to know their own breasts and look out for the signs of cancer.

Prostate Cancer UK's top priority is funding research to stop prostate cancer killing men through finding better treatments and better tests that can spot fast-growing cancers early.

Through the Demand Survival Now campaign, Pancreatic Cancer UK aims to make pancreatic cancer a survivable disease through an increase in research investment; better, faster treatment and care; and a dedicated symptoms awareness campaign.

Cruise Bereavement Care: 0808 808 1677 or www.cruse.org.uk (online chat available). A national charity for the bereaved.

Annual health campaigns

• Winter health and free flu vaccination programme.
• Night worker health advice and assessment campaign (see below for more information).
• Sun safety campaign.

Occupational Health Service

Via a referral through your line manager professional clinical support is available whether you are absent from work or in work with a health condition.

Find local NHS services near you.

Local Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors

Become a local volunteer role promoting physical, mental and financial health and signposting to internal and external support services.

Access the Health and Wellbeing Ambassador eLearning on SuccessFactors.

More information is available here.

MyBundle+

Access our employee benefits portal with access to:

• The cycle to work scheme;
• Financial wellbeing education and services;
• External gym membership discounts;
• Retailer discounts; instant vouchers, reloadable cards and cashback on purchases;
• Discounted orthosoles; and
• Healthcare cashplans.

Domestic Abuse

The Royal Mail Group Domestic Abuse Guide for employees is available and outlines signs to look out for; the approach to take when a person is affected by domestic abuse; and signposting to further help and support.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk for more information or to speak to someone online.

The Bright Sky app is a free to download mobile app providing support and information for anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or for those concerned about someone they know.

Access questionnaires to assess the safety of a relationship, plus a section on dispelling myths around domestic and sexual abuse.

Online Safe Spaces is a discreet portal that opens in a pop-up window, which can be installed on company websites and provides a variety of helpful support, advice and contact information for those at risk of, or experiencing, domestic abuse. It also features a quick exit button and leaves no internet history, ensuring the safety of those using the service. The portal is live at the bottom of the page on www.royalmail.com, www.parcelforce.com and www.myroyalmail.com.

More information is available here.

Night/Shift Worker Health

It has long been recognised that people who work shifts, especially night shifts, are more prone to certain health conditions due to the changes in their body clock leading to reduced rest, changes in eating habits, taking less physical exercise and having less social interaction with family and friends.

Every year night worker colleagues have the opportunity to take up a regular free health assessment via a screening questionnaire that has been compiled with guidance from Royal Mail’s occupational health service provider.

A night worker health assessment will identify any risk factors associated with medical condition(s) and then allow advice to be obtained on how to manage them effectively.

Participation is voluntary and if there are no health concerns, employees and line managers will receive a report to confirm this.

Should night worker colleagues wish to complete a health questionnaire outside of the annual campaign, an assessment is also available all year round via a manager referral to the occupational health service.

A one-page health advice for shift workers is available here.

You can also contact the First Class Support service, or access NHS services for additional help.