BBVA celebrates wellbeing week to promote healthy habits in the workforce
The financial institution allocates a week to promote and raise awareness about the importance of healthy lifestyle habits among its employees. Activities such as medical consultations, nutrition guidance, physical exercise, mental health support, and sleep hygiene are front and center across all the countries where the bank operates.
“For BBVA, looking after our team’s wellbeing is vitally important. "Our employees are our best asset, and we strive to offer them the best value proposition," says Araceli Morato, Head of Occupational Health at BBVA. Since 2022, the bank has concentrated on this area with programs that are already yielding significant results. "Over these months, more than 10,000 employees have participated in conferences focused on emotional management. Around 1,000 employees have attended sessions on anxiety, and the sleep hygiene course has been one of the most impactful," she adds.
Studies focused on preventing various types of diseases are of particular significance. Through the colon cancer prevention study, which involved 3,000 employees, healthcare professionals detected one early-stage cancer and six premalignant lesions. Additionally, the skin cancer prevention campaign found five malignant and two premalignant lesions. The genetic study aimed at preventing hereditary diseases identified nine cases with positive cardiovascular mutations. "The programs we have implemented directly assist our professionals in prevention and early detection, while also promoting awareness of both physical and mental health," states Morato.
In celebration of wellbeing week, BBVA has organized a schedule packed with activities focused on physical and mental health, nutrition, sports, and safety. "We have sessions on active breaks to teach how to incorporate exercises in the workplace and prevent back pain, talks on techno-stress to promote the healthy use of technology, postural hygiene classes, and presentations on maintaining emotional wellbeing," explains Morato.
Activities also feature glaucoma prevention and stress resistance tests in Spain, positive therapies with animals in Venezuela, engagement sessions with the trekking and running clubs in Türkiye, and workshops on parenthood in Peru, among other initiatives.
Nutrition will be another key focus of the event, inspired by the positive impact of past efforts in this area. "We have an ongoing nutritional counseling campaign with 20 percent of the workforce participating in Spain and a satisfaction rate exceeding 91 percent. Similar data from other country units demonstrate the interest in these types of initiatives," Morato notes. Throughout the wellbeing week, various formats of nutritional advice, body composition analysis, and master classes on nutrition will be offered.
The agenda for the week dedicated to promoting healthy habits and enhancing corporate wellbeing includes training on rest, balanced diets, and mindfulness, alongside sports activities such as group yoga classes, spinning, and a race up the 458 steps of the iconic La Vela building.