1
INSIGHTS Cotton On Leading the Way With Wellness
2015
Cotton On
Leading the Way
With Wellness
Cotton On has been
pursuing a wellness
strategy for the past six
years, demonstrating its
commitment to the health
and wellbeing of its sta.
Cotton On has been pursuing a wellness strategy for the past six years,
demonstrating its commitment to the health and wellbeing of its sta.
Health and Well Being Manager, Luke McLean, shared the Cotton On
wellness journey at the recent Marsh Workforce Strategies Forums, held
in Sydney and Melbourne.
According to the
Australian Financial Review
(AFR)
1
, Cotton On Group
has announced plans to add 227 jobs in Australia and overseas this year
as the business pursues a strategy to better its five-year record of
20%-plus sales growth.
Group sales are expected to rise by 22.5% this year to $1.51 billion. It
expects 20% cent-plus growth in 2016. This will be on the back of more
than 100 store openings and beefed up online trading capabilities with
new online sites, improved digital content and click and collect options.
As outlined in the
AFR
article cited
above, Cotton On plans to open 570
stores internationally, with the total
number of stores likely to hit nearly 1900
over the next three years, while online
sales are expected to rise to $250 million.
“We can’t do that if we don’t look after
people. At Cotton On, we’re always on,
be that at work, at home or with the
kids. So we need to be in shape mentally,
physically and emotionally because the
business is moving so fast,” he said.
According to McLean, the company’s
vision is to create the best workplace in
the world. Citing Jim Loehr’s famous
workplace management book, The
Power of Full Engagement, he explained
Cotton On is focused on helping to
manage the team’s energy, rather than
its time, which is something that’s fixed
and unmanageable.
Importantly, he acknowledged the
company’s commitment to mental
wellbeing is rooted in its culture. This is
one of the reasons why it has established
the Cotton On Foundation. “This gives
sta the ability to be connected to their
job beyond just receiving a pay cheque,”
McLean explained.
However, he stressed the business’s
notion of wellbeing is flexible to allow
individual sta members to express what
health and wellness means to them.
1
Mitchell, S. (2015), “Cotton On plans next stage of
global growth,
The Australian Financial Review
,
30/03/16, accessed 19/11/15, http://www.afr.com/
brand/cotton-on-plans-next-stage-of-global-
growth-20150328-1m9ztm.
The popular fashion brand takes the wellbeing of its
sta super seriously.
BOARD DISCUSSION
2
Here’s a snapshot of some of the wellness initiatives Cotton On’s sta can take
advantage of:
• Onsite gym with more than 180 three-on-one personal training sessions a
week.
• Access to an osteopath, beauty therapist and car wash.
• Café with subsidised meal options.
• Bring your dog to work.
• $50,000 spent on fresh fruit each year.
• Standing desks.
• In store yoga.
• Flexible hours: staff can choose their hours between 7am and 7pm, as long
as they work eight hours a day.
Plus, the business builds wellness into day-to-day activities. For instance,
smoothies are served to participants during meetings that run longer than an
hour. McLean says this makes good business sense because it helps keep team
members energised. Managers are also coached on how to ensure their sta
maintain their energy levels.
Says McLean: “work needs to go beyond a pay cheque and a job description.
People work 2080 hours a year and it’s a choice whether to just get through the
hours or to make it really awesome.”
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The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable, but we make no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. Marsh Pty Ltd
(ABN 86 004 651 512, AFSL 238 983) (‘Marsh’) arrange insurance and are not an insurer. This article and any recommendations, analysis or advice
provided by Marsh (collectively, the ‘Marsh Analysis’) are not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied
upon as such. Marsh is not affiliated with the Cotton On Group. This article is not to be construed as an endorsement of the Cotton On Group.
CATS 15/0042.
© Copyright 2015 Marsh Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cotton On Group sales
are expected to rise
by 22.5% this year to
“Work needs to
go beyond a pay
cheque and a
job description.
People work
2080 hours a
year and it’s a
choice whether
to just get
through the
hours or to
make it really
awesome.”
LUKE MCLEAN
$1.51
billion.
INSIGHTS Cotton On Leading the Way With Wellness
2015
