Health and Safety Measures at Boots Chemist Corporation: A Report

This report provides an executive summary of Boots Chemist Corporation's approach to health and safety, emphasizing their commitment to customer and employee well-being. It details the company's health and safety measures, including training programs, community engagement, and partnerships like Macmillan Cancer Support. The report also explores Boots' equality and diversity initiatives, such as the 'Dignity at Work' policy and various development programs. A comparison of these HR strategies with the UK's legislation, particularly the Equality Act 2010 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, is presented, highlighting the company's compliance efforts. Internal and external factors affecting these policies are also discussed, along with the strategic impact of these measures on Boots Chemist Corporation, including the safety culture plan and employee engagement programs. The report concludes by summarizing key findings and emphasizing Boots' dedication to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

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Boots Chemist Corporation’s Approach on Health and Safety Measures
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Executive summary
Boots Company’s goal has always been to deliver the very best to its customers and when it
comes to health and safety measures, they are the number one providers of the best products
with guarantee of health and safety measures in their products. Boots Corporation ensures
that their staffs are equipped with the very best skills and knowledge on health care and
support their customers to get informed and confident about all aspects of health. For
instance, conditions like cancer and diabetes. The staff also ensures that they talk to
customers for them to understand their conditions and therefore, get solutions to their health
and beauty needs. (Baran & Galka, 2016)

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Contents
Boots Chemist Corporation’s Approach on Health and Safety Measures.................................4
Boots Chemist Corporation’s Approach on Equility and Diversity in Workplace....................8
Comparison of the Two Human Resources Strategies with the United Kingdom’s Legislation
....................................................................................................................................................9
How the Two Aspects Might Help To Deliver Strategic Effect At Boots Chemist
Corporation..............................................................................................................................10
Internal and External Factors Affecting Equality and Diversity; Health and Safety Policies. 12
Conclusion................................................................................................................................13
References................................................................................................................................14

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Boots Chemist Corporation’s Approach on Health and Safety Measures
All of Boots Corporation’s pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are trained by experts and
in addition the company provides online materials which means, staff continues to learn and
develop their knowledge on health and safety measures. Moreover, the company engages
itself in community activities, where they organize and run healthcare promotion events so as
to get to know better the needs of the people in the local areas and also create more awareness
on health and safety measures to all people concerned. (Glisson, et al., 2012) In addition,
Boots Chemist Corporation have partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support where they
provide information and support to the people who are infected with cancer in United
Kingdom. Their main agenda is to ensure that no one suffers because of cancer, at least those
infected should learn how to control it. Boots Chemist Corporation has introduced Boots
Macmillan Information Pharmacist role where their main agenda is to give information and
support to the cancer patients. The pharmacists are people within the community and are
sponsored by Macmillan. They advise people and support them on health and safety measures
concerning cancer and other diseases.
Boots Corporation has also updated their health and safety policy for clearance and easier
understanding to the customers, the pharmacists and all concerned. The policies include
principles of the approach of safety and health measures, how to strengthen culture of safety,
its importance, safety governance and learning of all investigations conducted on health and
safety measures. Boots Chemist Corporation has increased their follow up of health
concerning risks and also it has taken the action of reviewing health measures regularly from
time to time through a government group in the UK.
Retail Safety Steering Committee is one of the two important strategic groups of steering up
health and safety to its participants. The other group is the Nottingham Site Steering Group

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chaired by Director of Logistics who helps to make sure safety and health measures are
properly checked and right people are put in place to prevent risks occurring. Boots Chemist
Corporation have also developed safety culture plan which teaches managers how to integrate
safety into everyday activities, in working and also to make sure that regular communications
share lessons to their customers. The safety culture plan also seeks ideas from employees on
methods they can use to boost their safety and that of their clients. It also ensures everyone in
the company takes part in learning safety and health measures. (Taylor, 2010)
At Boots customers’ health and safety is their priority. They make their customers feel good
by protecting them from harm with the help of skilled pharmacists in providing services like,
retail therapy and Botanic bubbles bath. The company also ensures the people who work for
it are healthy by helping them to have happy and healthy lifestyles. A report on the level of
safety and health was done and these are the findings that prove Boots have the responsibility
of taking care of its employee’s health. The findings were as follows:
 88% of customers feel that Boots is supposed to be a leading example of ensuring
that its employees are safe.
 92% think that Boots has a responsibility to look after their employees for them to
deliver fantastic customer services.
Boots Chemist Corporation, has also come up with safety and health measures to their
employees as follows; (Boyle, 2015)
i. Work-well campaign
It strives to improve good working conditions to employees.
ii. Bike to work week

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The employees are encouraged to cycle to work for their benefit. During their bike week to
work, the company gives advice on health, organizes sports on bike racing and also buys
bikes for the employees.
iii. Products
The company offers cheaper eye checkups, spectacles, contact lenses, cheaper vaccines and
other health services which clearly show health is a major concern for Boots Company.
iv. Safeguarding and prevent
The Boots Company has Safeguard and Prevent Policy which help the colleagues to stay safe
from harm at work. It also gives direction to employees when at risk of harm. The policies
are displayed on noticeboards. The company also tries to raise awareness on stress
management through social media where they upload the documents for the workers. The
program include; lessons of avoiding backs problems, by observing correct sitting postures
while at work through the Boots website and the e-learning program.
Boots Chemist Corporation also aims at protecting its customers and employees from harm.
It protects clients, employees, the public and suppliers from harm through Active Care and
Feel Good Opportunities. Boots believes that no one should be injured or suffer ill-health as a
result of working, visiting or shopping with them. Every area of business is exposed to
competent safety and health measures as recommended by the government.. Boots has Boots
Safety Standards and best practices which help to ensure that premises and equipment have
active risk assessments and training programs. It also has safety behaviors which includes
never walking past less than the best will be expected of anyone who works for Boots. The
senior leaders at Boots embed this culture by ensuring people’s safety to be the heart of the
business.

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Moreover, everyone at Boots is asked to play their part in sustaining a culture of active care
and of proactive safety, even when faced with tough choices. Boots has also seek ways to
perfect their approach by effectively learning from incidents that happened on safety. They
take their time to investigate safety incidences and share lessons so that no one will suffer
again in future. Boots also seek advice from those working in harm prone areas and they
share the knowledge to others so that everyone can prevent any occurrence of risk.
In addition, there is safeguarding and preventive measures at Boots. Their vision is to be the
best in provision of pharmacy products and services. Choice for pharmacy, and also to be
caring to all people, customers and communities everywhere. Boots does everything to make
sure those colleagues and customers are safe. At Boots it’s everybody’s responsibility to
safeguard and prevent each other from harm. Boots has also come up with ways of checking
behavior change in each and every one at Boots during working hours. The checking of
behavioral change is aimed at preventing injuries. The following behavioral changes acts as a
guide;
 Feeling weak.
 Behavioral change.
 Absenteeism.
 Change in eating habits.
 Different groups of friends.
 Different character image, some rudeness, a sense of persecution.
Boots encourages everyone to be on the look of those they work with. Moreover, Boots
love to engage in community support and therefore they create some funds to sponsor
some charities organizations or schools on safeguarding and preventive measures.
Colleagues at Boots are encouraged to take the following measures once they notice their
workmates are not okay;

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 Choose a place where they can talk openly.
 Make time to listen to everything they want to say.
 Stay calm even if conversation is emotional.
 Ask open questions without probing.
 Tell them why you are concerned, “You seem very quiet, like you have
something in your mind.” The colleagues are also encouraged to report to Human
Resource when they see something strange with their workmates. (Towlson &
Swaine, 2016)
Boots Chemist Corporation’s Approach on Equility and Diversity in Workplace
Boots Chemist Corporation encourages team-work and equality in their organization. They
give the best shopping experience and customers wants through a motivated staff working
together as a company. Boots offers great training and development to its staff. The company
makes sure that the workers’ careers develop and progress as they work. Employers allows
colleagues to learn through both formal learning and during job activities. (Brown & Lent,
2013) Examples of the learning Boots provide to its workers include;
 Line manager Essentials training for those joining the leadership roles.
 Induction training for those new to Boots.
 Development of knowledge and skills through online learning portal and a range of
other e-learning programs ranging from product knowledge to how best to help and
care for customers.
Boots also engages itself in development of future leaders by providing development
programs across all their stores to support leaders to the best they can. Boots offers
development programs for those colleagues identified to be having a high potential in
leadership. (Rothstein & Burke, 2010) Boots also supports inclusion and diversity. This is by
letting everyone contribute in ideas whether in stores or support office. This generally makes

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Boots a fantastic place to work at. Boots supports diversity by recruiting and a diverse
combination of employees who are representatives of different type of people in local
communities. This enables Boots to be t exposed to different ideas and knowledge therefore,
it gives a wide mix of products. (Bell, 2012) This clearly shows Boots is diverse;
 79% are women.
 35% are from an ethnic minority.
In 2012, Boots Chemist Corporation introduced ‘Dignity at Work’ policy which ensures all
employees respect the law and represent all diverse range of UK communities. Boots also
organized diversity and inclusion day in Feb 2013.It invited guest speakers from leading
companies to talk to the employees concerning diversity and inclusion. The employees were
taught on new ideas and plan for inclusion and diversity. It also led to improvement of
various programs to employees.
 Various career programs opportunities to all workers.
 Program of delivering a work experience workers within the communities that are
hard to reach.
Boots also introduced Women in IT in order to engage women and also to provide mentoring
opportunities to all genders as a way of giving back to the community. Boots also has
associated itself with community service activities like ‘Opportunity Now’ and ‘Race for
Opportunity’ which centers on gender and race equality. (Anon., 2018)
Comparison of the Two Human Resources Strategies with the United Kingdom’s
Legislation
Boots Chemist Corporation adheres to the United Kingdom’s laws and regulations
concerning work. For instance, through its policy on equality and diversity, it adheres to the
Equality Act 2010, which ensures employers and employees do the right activities at their
workplaces by making the working environment suitable to all. (Wadham, et al., 2012) The

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Equality Act 2010 provides equality for the disable in their recruitment. Boots Chemist
Corporation ensures the Act is put into practice by including the disable in their recruitment.
Boots also work in accordance with Equity Act 2010 by providing equal pay to both male
and female workers. Boots Chemist Corporation also complies with the nine areas Equality
Act 2010, which provides protection in the following categories;
 Difference in age.
 Disability.
 Partnership and marriage.
 Pregnancy and maternity.
 Difference in race.
 Sex difference.
Boots Chemist Corporation also align itself in accordance with the Health and Safety at
work Act 1974, which provides protection of employer, employees and also the public from
workplace dangers. (Smedley, et al., 2013) The Act states that an employer, employee or self-
employed person is responsible for the health policy by making workplaces safer and happier
to work at. Boots adheres to Equality Act 2010 and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
by making equality, diversity, health and safety to be their priority at work.
How the Two Aspects Might Help To Deliver Strategic Effect At Boots Chemist
Corporation
Diversity, equality, health and safety policies matters a lot in an organization, this is because
they make an organization to gain a competitive advantage in business and also creates more
profit to the organization by creating a large customer base to its sales. They also attract
diverse professionals therefore, driving innovation of Boots Chemist Corporation. Diversity
promotes individuality in the organization. This is because each member of the organization
is given a chance to contribute to the organization ideas in bringing solutions to challenges of

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the company. Employees come up with different ideas on how to increase productivity.
(Gause, 2011)
Moreover, diversity brings different talents under one company; therefore, Boots Company is
usually equipped with different approaches in solving their business challenges. Diversity
also builds the Boots Company’s reputation. It makes Boots a desired place for employees to
work at. (Tulshyan, 2016) Diversity at Boots also has led to creativity in solving business
challenges. This is because it has different type of employees with different type of skills and
therefore, situations are handled differently and in a desired manner. Diversity also leads to
personal development and growth to the employees. This is because the employees get to
meet different people in the company and end up learning new ideas and connect
professionally with the other employees. (Williams, 2013)
Equality on the other hand, helps Boots to retain the best employees. This is because the
employees are treated with no discrimination and therefore, they feel happy and satisfied
working at Boots. Equality also creates good working relationship between employees.
(Elcock, 2010) This makes Boots to be more productive as everyone becomes more willing to
work without push. Equality also increases performance in the organization. This is because
all employees are satisfied and therefore, deliver their duties perfectly. (Wilson, 2013)
Equality also creates a wide customer base. This is because more customers are appealed by
equity in the organization. Different and diverse customers get to visit the firm and therefore,
Boots automatically make more sales. Equality also leads to lawsuit protection since
regulations at workplace support equality therefore, Boots will not be violating the law when
it ensures equality is observed. Equality also gives employees same opportunities and
therefore, they get a chance to develop and grow their skills. (ELborgh-Woytek & Newiak,
2013)

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A health and safety policy measure has also many impacts to the organization. It reduces
absenteeism due to sickness at work. This saves the business on the costs and manpower
since the employees will always be available to perform their duties. (Hughes & Ferrett,
2013) Safety and health policy also saves insurance premiums and also costs on accidents.
This therefore, reduces the operational cost of Boots Company. When Boots keep its
employees safe and healthy it reduces their worker’s medical expenses, insurance costs and
payout for returning to work. This automatically, increases efficiency and productivity of the
firm therefore, making it successful. (Elearn, 2012) In addition a good health and safety
policy helps workers to be committed and thus Boots will achieve its objectives since all
workers will be productive. It also reduces workplace injuries and illness. This enables the
organization to save costs that would have been used to compensate those injured and also
ensures proper allocation of resources of in the health and safety sector, this is because
employees get to account efficiently for the resources given to health and safety department.
This leads to risk management as workers will be able to understand and eliminate risks from
occurring. (Tourrette, et al., 2010)
Internal and External Factors Affecting Equality and Diversity; Health and Safety
Policies
One of the factors that determine the level of equality, diversity and health is the way
reassessment of job requirements for the leadership is done. Equality and diversity begins
with the leadership, if there are no women at the senior leadership team, then there is no way
equity and diversity can be promoted. Another factor that affect health and safety policy is
the access of equal opportunities to workers. If some members in the firm are insured and
others are not, then there is no way health and safety will be available to all employees, also
if only women are given promotion opportunities then there will be no equity. (Thompson,
2017)