| 7 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Yealands Wines Rachel Graham Covid response brings out the best Yealands Wines has a major focus on worker wellbeing. www.boydwilsonelectrical.co.nz Proud to support Yealands Wine Group Phone 03 572 7448 for your industrial/commercial electrical work. Partner Yealands Wines is on a mission of constant self-improvement, and taking part in the Ministry for Primary Industries Good Employer Awards was a great opportunity to let everyone know some of the great things they are doing. The Seddon based vineyard, which has been operating since 2008, was delighted to be picked as finalist in this year’s awards. Yealands’ Health, Safety, and Wellbeing manager, Brodie Cornelius, says in the past the company has been humble about all the great things they have been doing, but he thinks there is a lot of benefit from sharing what they do, especially in light of the impact of Covid-19. In response to Covid-19 the company set up a dedicated Response Team, with a focus on the well-being and safety of all staff. “You’ve got to keep your business hat on and reduce exposure and risk to the business,” says Brodie. “But we also tried to keep everyone in touch and connected, especially during the extended lockdowns in Auckland. “We delivered pizza to their houses with a bottle of wine, and did a bit of food and wine matching. And then all jump online to discuss it. We also got some comedians and Blues players to jump online with us. “When you are spending a lot of time online and connecting through video conferencing, there’s never a lot of humour in it. So, when you can break it down and have a laugh together you get to know each other a lot better.” “I also have a big focus on mental health, and one thing we’ve learnt from Covid is we need to support each other, communicate with each other and normalise some of these issues.” The company is also taking other steps to look out for its people’s wellbeing. It is the first company in New Zealand to retrofit all 14 of its spray tractor cabs to meet the category 4 European Union standard. Brodie Cornelius says the tractor cabs met the New Zealand standard, but the company decided to strive for the stricter EU standards, which require that no chemicals can get into the cab while spraying is underway. He says the work required some extensive changes to the tractors, which was led by the viticulture team, along with a local provider and Landlogic. “When you are talking positive pressures, that meant replacing everything from door seals, to the air conditioning units, to the method of air getting in through the filters on top of the roof.” “It’s also upgrades the air conditioning and heating at the same time, so the staff are pretty happy about that too,” says Brodie. “And they don’t have that anxiety around anything they are doing potentially being dangerous.” Another way in which the company is trying to ensure that its employees feel valued and respected is in the provision of free period care products. Brodie says, being based in Seddon about 20 minutes drive south of Blenheim, it’s not easy to pop down to the shops, so this was another way the company could ensure it provided a working environment which works for people. Brodie says Yealands has prided itself on its commitment to sustainability since its inception, achieving carbon neutrality from its very start. They are also making the most of the long sunny Marlborough days with 1,300 solar panels on the winery roof, and further upgrades underway. He says a recent staff survey showed that for many people Yealands’ commitment to sustainability had attracted them to work for the firm. Brodie says that helps Yealands attract the quality staff they have, and therefore has a great flow on effect on the wider success of the business. “I also have a big focus on mental health, and one thing we’ve learnt from Covid is we need to support each other, communicate with each other and normalise some of these issues.”
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