Health is Wealth
Health is Wealth – an employee wellbeing program that values health and safety
We believe that a healthy and motivated employee is our company’s greatest asset. Employee wellbeing directly impacts work quality, safety, and our shared results. At Maag Food, we have a comprehensive internal health and wellbeing program called Health is Wealth.
Maag Food’s core values are: we care, we challenge, and we enjoy. The health and wellbeing program represents a holistic and well-thought-out strategic approach aimed at supporting employees’ physical, mental, and social wellbeing. We consider it important that every employee feels safe, supported, and valued. Achieving this requires attention to health and continuous investment in improving the work environment
“Caring about wellbeing, health, and the work environment is already embedded in our company’s core values. Effective work can only be done by a healthy and motivated employee. The Health is Wealth program brings together activities that primarily focus on maintaining employees’ mental and physical health as well as safety. We strongly believe that an employee should leave work in at least the same condition as when they arrived in the morning. This mindset is woven into our daily operations,” explains Maag Food’s HR Director, Relika Rohtoja.
“As an employer, we can implement various initiatives and provide sufficient communication to help employees understand their impact. However, the decision to make use of the opportunities offered ultimately lies with the employee 😊. For me, it’s a very positive sign when I see both board members and production workers participating together in our joint running events. Thematic initiatives such as Safety Week or Food Safety Week have also been very well received and inclusive. The rapid growth in the number of people engaging in health sports is another key indicator—the direct impact of our activities, investments, and efforts,” she adds.
Leaders set the example
According to Relika, for any activity that is not part of operational work, leaders need to provide explanations and lead by example. “It is very important how things are communicated—the mindset and language used. Therefore, the role of direct managers as ‘ambassadors’ of the message is crucial. Various benefits and activities—be they sports events, discounts, or others—are designed for the benefit of our employees. Together, we take care of everyone’s health!” She notes that implementing any new process or program takes time.
“The larger the organization, the longer it takes to understand the full extent of its impact. If five years ago people in our facilities were quite skeptical about different initiatives, now it feels like there is genuine anticipation—what exciting things will the new year bring? More and more employees are joining sports and health-related activities. The introduction of Confido Health Solutions has received very positive feedback. In recruitment situations, one of the key topics is always employer values and how they are expressed. Very engaging discussions arise around workplace and wellbeing initiatives. Looking beyond the company, it’s also encouraging to see that movement and physical activity have become more integrated into people’s daily lives. We have aimed to include activities in our Health is Wealth program that reflect both care and a sense of fun, with the ultimate goal of keeping people’s mental and physical health in balance. The activities are designed to be accessible to everyone. Each of us can decide whether and how to participate. We hope these activities resonate with people and help our employees stay healthy for a long time.”
Health as a visible value
Occupational Health and Safety Manager Dagmar Teder adds that all occupational health topics are also part of the Health is Wealth program. “We focus on preventing and reducing work-related health risks, as well as maintaining and improving work ability. In addition to the traditional Occupational Health and Safety Week held in October, we also organize the YuMuuvi activity challenge, along with special challenges and participation opportunities in public sports events, which motivate employees to stay active and strengthen team spirit. We carry out vaccinations to help prevent viral infections and implement various other initiatives that support employee health and wellbeing, such as health-related trainings. We also offer employees health insurance. It is great to see that, compared to years ago, employees are much more aware. There is greater attention to health risks, and employees are more proactive in reporting them to the employer,” says Dagmar, who sees that health has become a visible value within the organization.
Team spirit is also strengthened by celebrating important occasions together—we mark events such as International Women’s Day, Men’s Day, Shrove Tuesday, and others. On Midsummer’s Day and at Christmas, employees receive gifts from the company, and the motivation package includes additional benefits.
According to Dagmar, mental health topics have reached the same level of importance as physical health and receive significant attention. At the same time, employees’ expectations of employers have increased. “People think a lot about whether their job allows them to remain healthy in 5–10 years. This is reflected in the use of our hazard reporting system—for example, in 2025, our employees registered a total of 906 hazard situations (across both meat and dairy businesses). It is very positive that cooperation in resolving these situations is quick and that employees themselves propose solutions on how the employer can make the work environment safer. I can confidently say that 90% of hazard situations have been resolved!” Dagmar concludes.
