Karen Mealmaker, Partner, EHS, EY
As a profession, we’ve long believed that strong health and safety performance will lead to improved commercial outcomes. On what basis have we drawn that conclusion?
More than ever, organisations are assessed by stakeholders (shareholders, employees, governments and others) on their efforts to do more than advance shareholder interests alone. Decisions are made daily by consumers, investors and regulators based on an organisation’s impact on people and plant. This backdrop underscores the role of the Work Health & Safety (WHS) function as a strategic enabler and foundation for value creation.
EY analysed data from 9,000 of the largest public companies from around the world to assess the relationship between WHS performance and company financial, social, and regulatory performance. We will share the findings from our research and lead a data-driven discussion about whether increasing WHS maturity can actually improve overall organisational performance.
