Winning Secrets: Why Herbalife Nutrition tailors employee wellbeing programmes to different needs and interests

Partnering with different groups of key stakeholders from the management team to employees at all levels is essential to a winning wellbeing strategy, says Melody King, VP, HR – APAC & China, Herbalife Nutrition. 

Herbalife Nutrition is a global nutrition company specialising in nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The company offers science-backed products to consumers in 95 markets by entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community to inspire their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. 

At the 10^th annual edition of HR Excellence Awards, Singapore in 2022, Herbalife Nutrition won the bronze award for 'Excellence in Corporate Wellness'.

In view of this achievement, we catch up with Melody King, Vice President, Human Resources – Asia Pacific & China, Herbalife Nutrition (pictured above) on the regional people-focused strategy, 'APAC Power of One Team', which supports both business objectives and ethical/sustainable practices.

Q Congratulations on the achievement! Could you take us through the highs-and-lows of your winning strategy?

Our winning strategy is built upon four core pillars: physical, emotional, social, and intellectual, which are aligned with our regional people-focused strategy, 'APAC Power of One Team'. We believe it is not one-size-fits-all, hence a range of holistic wellbeing initiatives/programmes are developed to support the different needs of our multicultural and multigeneration workforce.

The COVID-19 situation has been a game-changer in how we engage our employees and ensure their wellbeing is continuously taken care of. Due to the changing landscape and to better support the needs of our diverse workforce, we adopted more progressive policies and innovative wellbeing benefits as well as embraced technology and digital tools rather than traditional channels to provide a differential employee experience.

Q How did the HR team identify and align the business & employee needs, and craft out this perfect solution?

Employees’ needs were identified through the four core pillars, and they were aligned with the principles of our APAC Power of One Team strategy, supporting our business objectives and ethical/sustainable practices. Our wellbeing initiatives/programmes were developed and implemented via multiple modes namely by learning, action, and support tracks, with an understanding that not one size fits all and they are targeted or tailored to different needs and interests’ groups.

In addition, we engaged, partnered and collaborated with different groups of key stakeholders from our management team to our employees at all levels.

Q Could you share the results that your strategy has delivered – be it on the business, HR, or people side?

Overall key findings from our APAC Wellbeing Survey in May 2021 reflect 90% participation, with some programmes having positive impact on helping employees pace workload, manage stress, and strengthen relationships on both professional and personal levels.

Our managers also demonstrated being good role models of wellbeing culture and encouraged employees to participate in wellbeing initiatives.

Additionally, employee engagement scores taken from our Global Engagement Survey continue to remain at an all-time high in APAC, averaging at about 81% over 2021 and 2022.

Q What is your message to all the stakeholders who have supported you in this journey?

I would like to say a big 'THANK YOU' to all our APAC One Team leaders and general managers, and HR and corporate communications teams for the joint efforts and great partnership. We are living our values to 'Build It Better', to learn, grow, innovate, and excel together as One Team APAC. We won this award together with the commitment and efforts of every individual team member and caring for each other as One Team!

Q What are you most excited about when you think about the future of HR?

The role of HR is evolving rapidly with the future of HR influencing a paradigm shift, as we adapt to the rise of the gig economy workforce, developments in automation and AI, as well as the changing nature of the working environment impacted by the pandemic, affecting continuous transformation of businesses.

Photo / Provided (featuring the interviewee)

Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices - head over to our Winning Secrets' section!

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