Turning workplace safety into a culture of self-care at Coca-Cola Hellenic

The Challenge

Coca-Cola Hellenic is a responsible company with a longstanding commitment to employee wellbeing — providing regular training, safety manuals, and protective equipment related to health and safety. Yet despite these efforts, occasional workplace injuries continued to occur. With ergonomics and proper load handling identified as the focus area for the year, internal research pointed clearly to the root cause: back injuries, stemming from poor ergonomic practices across the company’s diverse workforce.

The Solution

The response called for more than information — it required a campaign that would genuinely engage employees and shift behavior. The creative concept introduced the 3F Team: a Physician, Physiotherapist, and Fitness Instructor, reimagined as workplace superheroes and health and safety ambassadors, available to every employee dealing with back pain. Built around the rallying message “We’ve got your back — take care of yourself too,” the campaign struck a balance between institutional responsibility and personal accountability. Recognizing that Coca-Cola Hellenic’s workforce spans very different environments, V+O developed a tailored approach for each of the four company sectors — administration, distribution, production, and warehouse — addressing their specific challenges within a unified communication framework. Interactive lectures and engaging competitions were organized sector by sector to maximize participation. The campaign rolled out simultaneously in Belgrade and six additional cities across Serbia where the company operates production and distribution centers.

The Outcome

The campaign resonated deeply across the organization. Over 530 employees were educated on health and safety in the workplace, with strong active participation throughout the two-week rollout. Most significantly, the number of sick leaves due to back problems decreased by 30% in the aftermath of the campaign — a tangible, measurable impact on employee wellbeing and operational continuity. The work was recognized beyond the client, earning a shortlist nomination for the PR Award of the PR Society of Serbia.