Te Whatu Ora’s new campaign ‘Let Your Body Go to Work’ via Clemenger BBDO Wellington introduces a new way to think about sickness.
‘Presenteeism’ is the cultural pressure that forces many of us to head to work when we’re sick. Even though we’re less productive, and more likely to pass the sickness on.
It’s estimated that presenteeism represents a far greater cost to businesses than sickness absence – including the ongoing reduced productivity that comes from workmates making each other sick.
Despite this, there is still massive social pressure to ‘turn up’ no matter how sick you are. Ultimately, people feel too guilty or disempowered to take a sick day. And that’s something Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora are setting out to change.
“We’re planting the seed that resting up at home isn’t a cop out,” says Brigid Alkema, Chief Creative Officer of Clemenger BBDO; “even though you’re stationary, your body’s still working incredibly hard to heal. Respect it. Don’t fight it.”
Director Joel Kefali says: “I loved how still this spot could be. I wanted to create a world that felt a little more heightened and use our lighting and dressing to make the subjects feel heroic. There’s that hazy brain-foggy dreaminess of being sick, so a bit of fever dreamy Heigh-ho fun helps capture that feeling, too.”
Tamara Lovett, Te Whatu Ora Team Lead Campaigns, Content and Design says: “This piece charmingly reframes the way we can think about sickness. Upping those who are doing the good work at home by looking after themselves – and in turn, looking after us all.”
See the film here.
Client: Te Whatu Ora & Te Aka Whai Ora
Creative Agencies: Clemenger BBDO Wellington & Wawata Creative
Media Agency: OMD
Production Company: Good Oil
Director: Joel Kefali
Editor: Luke Haigh
Composition: Cam Ballantyne, Beatworms
Photography: Steve Boniface, Match Photography
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