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1240/5/1(151)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BY DEPUTY S.Y. MÉZEC OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 14TH MARCH 2017
Question
Will the Minister provide the details of any gym facilities his Department provides for its workers, including the date on which they were set up and their cost?
Answer
A departmental wellbeing team has been formed at DfI which has been looking at possible initiatives for improving the wellbeing of staff at DfI. They have developed a pilot project for all DfI employees. A mini- gym is being trialled at Bellozanne, comprising 6 exercise machines and a few free weights. The equipment is not new, it is reconditioned and is being used on the understanding that if the decision is taken not to continue after the trial period then the equipment will be purchased by the Sport Division of the Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Department which has helped source and oversee the purchase and will provide support on the use of the equipment.
Due to its relatively remote out-of-town location, training facilities are not readily available to Bellozanne workers who wish to train before work or during lunch without a dedicated trip to town during peak traffic. If DfI wish to accrue the financial and social benefits of a healthier workforce, then it has to make it as easy as possible to incorporate exercise into their daily routine and remove as many barriers as possible, in this instance the time to travel to town.
It is expected that this facility will open at the end of March and will be for all DfI employees to use in their own time (not work time). The cost of equipment is £23,750.
During the pilot scheme we will be trying to gauge the use and benefits of providing such a facility as the model may be used in other Departments.
The pilot must be seen in the context of the existing Active Card offering to States of Jersey employees where they receive reduced rates and have access to a wide range of facilities. It is suggested that this facility is branded in line with the Active Card, perhaps as "Active at Work" or something similar and that if an employee is an active card holder this facility becomes available to them at no extra cost. If employees are not an active card holder then a monthly payment to use the facility will be made.
Having the active card or monthly payment system would mean there is an incentive to use the gym as they have paid for it, and those existing Active Card holders will get an additional benefit for their card subscription. It also means that the facility is a joint project between employer and employee with both contributing.