STAFF

NEWSLETTER
0 5 AFFINITY STAFF NEWS

May Edition - 2023

Hello Affinity Staffers!

Here is what you can look forward to this month:

◦ Mental Health Awareness Month ◦ Outstanding Affinity Staffers

◦ Fatigue Management ◦ Stay Safe, Use the iER App!
◦ The Ultimate Guide to Improve Mental ◦ Meet Our Life Coach
Health in The Workplace ◦ The Monthly Competition
◦ Get to Know a Department

MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH

“Mental health…is not a destination, but a process. It’s about

how you drive, not where you’re going.” Noam Shpancer, PhD

Did you know that May is Global Mental Health Awareness Month? We have decided to break the
stigma of mental health in the workplace. We want you to feel seen when facing challenges
affecting the balance between work and personal life. Read on to learn more.

Fatigue Management

What is Fatigue? ▪ Hand-eye coordination issues or slow

Fatigue is a mental or physical feeling that
impairs your capacity to perform safely and
successfully. Fatigue can be occupational,
non-occupational, or a combination of the
two, and it can accumulate over time. This can
result in accidents and injuries on the job.
What is the Purpose of a Fatigue
Management Toolbox Talk?
One of the most important benefits is that
proper fatigue management can lower the
rate of accidents that occur by positively
impacting the rate of human error and
reducing it. It also increases the rate of
productivity in several ways. Workers are
healthier and happier, resulting in less time
off work.
Who Oversees Fatigue Management?
Under the shared responsibility model,
workers also have a duty regarding fatigue
management. Workers must take reasonable
care of their health and safety in the
workplace and those of others affected by
their actions.
Signs of Fatigue
Fatigue can have short-term or long-term
consequences (burnout). The following are
symptoms of fatigue:
▪ Short-term memory loss and difficulty
concentrating
▪ Poor decision-making or judgement
errors
reflexes
▪ Mood swings
▪ Having difficulty resolving issues
▪ Job performance suffers from difficulty
focusing
▪ Unable to recollect the most recent
thought or conversation
Causes of Fatigue
▪ Working lengthy hours on shift
▪ Sleep deprivation
▪ The climate is an environmental aspect
to consider
▪ Physical work considerations include
the use of vibrating tools and the
nature of the job.
▪ Excessive alcohol or drug use
▪ Eating poorly
▪ Too little physical activity
▪ Medicine linked to depression
▪ Too much physical activity
How to Manage Fatigue
▪ Eat often to beat tiredness
▪ Get moving
▪ Lose weight to gain energy
▪ Sleep well
▪ Reduce stress to boost energy
▪ Talking therapy beats fatigue
▪ Cut out caffeine
▪ Drink less alcohol

The Ultimate Guide To Improve Mental

Health In The Workplace

Mental health at work

Mental health at work has become a top priority for many organisations.
Everyday stressors such as a higher cost of living, work, school, family life,
and juggling everything in between have all contributed to an increase in
mental health challenges. Let’s face it; if you have challenges keeping
your mental health in check, you can find enjoying day-to-day activities
difficult.

The Importance of Mental Health at Work

As a valued staff member of our organisation, you are essential to the daily
operations of the business. We want to emphasise the need for mental
well being in the workplace and so we’ve listed three reasons why being
more mindful is essential.

It Helps to Break the Stigma

Even with the increased focus on mental and emotional wellness, the
stigma around mental illnesses remains. Yet, it continues to affect a large
number of the South African population. According to the South African
Drugs and Anxiety Group (SADAG), approximately 10% of the workforce
suffers from mental illness disorders.
It is common for society to display a regressive way of thinking. The stigma attached to mental
health makes it difficult to talk about what you are going through, however, being open about
what you’re dealing with helps you and others in the workplace to find practical solutions.

Poor Mental Health Affects Your Work-Life Balance

Despite what position you’re in, maintaining a positive work-life balance is

crucial. Yes, for some people, it may seem easier to do however, everyone
should balance their personal and work life effectively.

The effects of your mental health on your work-life balance may differ
from your colleagues. For instance, you might deal with sleepless nights
and fatigue at home, on the other hand, you feel burnt out at work and
your output declines.

Improved Mental Health Increases Productivity

We believe in a healthy work environment. As a result, we urge our

employees to take advantage of our mental wellness initiatives when
needed. A positive work culture is a significant part of better mental
health.

Studies have shown how improved mental health increases productivity. When you are happy
and content with your work environment, enhancing other areas of your life is more
manageable, your home life improves, and you can focus on all your goals positively.

Ways to Boost Your Mental Health at Work

Be Mindful you don’t talk about your mental health, you

It’s easy to stress about your deadlines. You
could spend time with your family and not
enjoy the present moment. Suddenly, you
have unexplainable bouts of anxiety that
distract you and keep you up all night.
You must include mindful practices such as
yoga or meditation in your daily routine. Being
mindful ensures you promote wellness in your
everyday life. Most notably, it helps you
address your anxious thoughts to ease mental
stressors.
Focus on Your Strengths
It’s easier to think of your imperfections when
you feel down. You end up forgetting what
you’re capable of. Focusing on your strengths
is necessary when you feel out of place
mentally.
The last thing is to remember your robust
talents. Ensure you don’t compare yourself to
others at work. When you focus on your
strengths, you create an environment where
you are confident with increased energy
levels.
Be Grateful
It’s easy to see work as a place where you can’t
show compassion. The professional culture of
the corporate world creates barriers for you to
be yourself. Yet, studies suggest empathy
contributes to a workplace you want to be in
to feel appreciated.
add to the stigma around it, which leads to a
lack of understanding by those around you.
Know that it’s perfectly normal to talk openly
about how you feel with your friends, co-
workers, or a professional. Try to educate
yourself as much as possible to help you
interpret your thoughts better. And aim to be
as positive as you can when you express your
feelings.
Slow Down
Taking a step back from your stressful
thoughts has many benefits. It gives you the
time to pause and reflect on the areas you
must improve. You can reduce your anxiety
and stress by redirecting your energy towards
better decision-making.
At times, work becomes too intense to focus
on anything. There are too many deadlines
and little time to get through them and your
life goals. Slow down to find the ideal
approach to better your mental health.
At Affinity, we have various wellness benefits
available for our staff. If your mental health is
declining, you must talk to someone. We have
these varied mental wellness initiatives to
improve your mental, financial, and physical
health.
▪ Trauma Counselling and Life
Coaching with Mary Andalaft
(hradmin@affinityhealth.co.za/
hrflora@affinityhealth.co.za)

Making gratitude a daily practice helps ease
the stresses linked to work. It improves your
mindset. Additionally, it contributes to higher
satisfaction with your well-being.
Talk About It
▪ Financial Wellness and Budgeting
(financialfreedom@affinityhealth.co.za)
▪ Nurse Consultations
(consult@medicalsociety.co.za)
▪ Career Guidance and Counselling
(careerdevelopment@affinityhealth.co.za)

Your mental health is as crucial as your ▪ Wellness Care Grocery Hamper

physical health. You must learn to normalise (wellnesscare@affinityhealth.co.za)
the conversation about how you feel. When

Get to Know a Department!

This month, our department segment is dedicated to our vital healthcare resources. Affinity has
two departments that are there to cater to your physical and mental health needs. We’ve
summarised them below for you to understand how they’re essential.

Telehealth
Who are we: We are a dynamic, energetic team with dedicated support staff and Health
Professionals whose main objective is to provide telephonic health services 24 Hours a Day, 7
Days a Week.

What we do: The Telehealth department provides both internal and external services. Internal
services include assistance for staff in need of medical intervention. External telephonic services
include the assessment and management of various conditions, chronic disease management
and the referral and motivation for procedures.

If you wish to consult with a nurse, please email consult@medicalsociety.co.za

Medical Society
Who are we: We are a dynamic, energetic team vital to the operations of the 12 Medical Society
centres nationwide, providing the centres with the best support possible.

What we do: The Medical Society Department team supports the centres with procurement,
packaging and the re-distribution of medication and medical devices, clinical supervision, and
support for all nurses on staff and more.

If you wish to consult with a nurse, please email consult@medicalsociety.co.za

Stay Safe,
Use the iER App SAVING LIVES

Good day Affinity Staffers,
Did you know the iER App connects you to
over 13 000 medical and non-medical
emergency service providers?
Additionally, we have a 24-hour call centre for
prompt emergency response. If you’re
uncertain of your surroundings, the GPS
locator can provide you with an accurate
locaFon for efficient response times.

If you ever find yourself in a life-threatening
situation, our emergency response app
provides you with immediate assistance. We
liaise with emergency responders for you
while you deal with your case.
iER’s primary goals are the following:
To coordinate various resources to
manage the impact of any emergency.
To provide sufficient emergency
responders.

The iER App is available with a nationwide

Communication with our users for
network of service providers, whether you
proper response planning.
face an emergency at work or on holiday.

The iER App provides you with these benefits:

Instant alerts.

GPS tracking.

24/7 iER call centre.

Assessment of emergencies.

Free access to more than 13 000

medical emergency services.
Case management.

Meet Our Life Coach

Welcome to our question and answers column,
where we delve into the fascinating world of mental
wellness. This newsletter aims to provide a safe
space for discussions and insights into various
aspects of mental health.

Whether you have questions about managing stress,

building resilience, fostering positive relationships, or
understanding the intricacies of different mental health
conditions, Mary is here to offer guidance and support.

We can empower you with knowledge and strategies to enhance your well-being by addressing
your queries.

So, let's take this opportunity together and explore the dynamics of mental wellness, one
question at a time"

Employees of the month!

Congratulations to all Outstanding Affinity Staffers! Keep up your great work.

“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” — Chris Grosser

The April Benoni Employees of the month are:

Tshepiso Leseyane Sibusiso Zwane Mabongo Sikhosana

Devs NBC Hospital Claims

The March Flora Employees of the month are:

Puti Sakala

It’s Competition Time!

Congratulations to the winners for April!
Thank you to all the keen readers for participating in the monthly competition.

Imogen Victor Howard Mack

Benoni Flora
IRDSA Sales Representative NRD Team Leader

Here is this month's competition:

What is our monthly newsletter without our exciting competition? This month, we’re switching
things up. The answer you’re looking for is hidden in plain sight.

Tell us how many times the word “mental health" is mentioned and how many “brain” images
you see.

Our competition rules are simple:

Send an email with the correct information to staffnews@affinityhealth.co.za, and you will
stand a chance to win!

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can buy and sell goods and services.

https://staff.affinityenterprises.co.za/classifieds/

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