Worksite Wellness Initiatives can be as simple as:
• Increasing knowledge about healthy lifestyles
• Providing walking trails, fitness equipment and health classes at worksites
• Implementing healthier changes for cafeteria and vending choices
• Providing a breastfeeding lounge for new mothers who return to work
• Celebrating or sending email/posting reminders about national health related events such as TV Turnoff Week and Bike and Walk to Work Day.
Physical Activity
“Take the Stairs” - To promote more physical activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designed the “Take the Stairs” program. At work, employees are often presented with a choice between taking the stairs and taking an elevator or escalator. Choosing the stairs instead of the elevator is a quick way for people to add physical activity to their day. More information about how to implement a “Take the Stairs” program at your worksite, is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Part of the “Take the Stairs” program includes posting motivational signs around your workplace. Here are some ideas you could use – there are even signs ready for you to download and post today!
Walking Trail Map - Consider developing a walking map highlighting a few different routes/trails in and around your facility, in distances varying from .5 miles total trip to 2+ miles total trip. Display and distribute maps in receptionist/lobby areas and other central locations. Staff can enjoy a walk during breaks and/or lunch periods.
Nutrition
It seems that many of us spend most of our days in meetings and all too often we greet each other with doughnuts and pastries, our partnership with American Cancer Society offers tremendous resources on holding healthy meetings. You can access the Meeting Well materials through our partner site fightcancer.org. Enter the password gethealthyky to access these FREE resources.
By offering employees healthier choices, you are helping them make positive changes. You can start by making healthy choices available at your workplace and in meetings your company sponsors. Here are some tips for improving nutrition in the workplace.
• Vending/Cafeteria Changes. Survey staff to identify their needs/wants regarding healthier choices. Work continuously with cafeteria staff to take small steps toward a healthier food environment. Add whole wheat bread, low-fat & low-sodium soups, low fat mayonnaise as well as offering veggie burgers and a wide variety of salad choices. Change options in the vending machines such as 94 percent fat-free popcorn and switch from candy/cookie selections to granola bars, trail mix and baked chip options.
• Healthy Potlucks/Meeting Food Choices. Promote healthy choices at any meetings, conferences or celebration gatherings in your facility. University of Minnesota has developed a booklet titled: “Guidelines for Offering Healthy Foods at Meetings, Seminars and Catered Events” which includes more ideas.
Tobacco Cessation and Tobacco Free Workplace
Creating a tobacco free workplace can have huge benefits for both the employer and employees. A smoke free workplace can lead to lower healthcare costs, higher productivity and decreased absenteeism. Learn more about creating a tobacco and smoke free workplace.
Breastfeeding in the Workplace
Supporting breastfeeding mothers who return to work is a cost efficient strategy for worksites. Breastfed infants are sick less often, mothers miss work less often and healthcare costs are reduced. In addition, working mothers feel supported by the workplace. A breastfeeding mother would require a private space to pump her breastmilk, along with access to an outlet and sink. For more information about breastfeeding in the worplace, including a toolkit for employers, visit the CDC's Lactation Support Program website.
General
• Bulletin Boards - Include topics such as: Summer Sun Safety, Men’s/Women’s Health, Food Safety, Food Guidance System, Sugar Content of Foods, Fiber, Whole Grains, etc. Develop healthy recipes in conjunction with bulletin board themes. Update monthly to keep messages fresh and appealing to employees.
• Health Promotion Emails - Every 6-8 weeks, distribute a company-wide health themed email to all staff. Examples may include promoting special events such as Bike + Walk to Work Day, National Trails Day, National Farmers’ Market Week, National 5 A Day Month, etc.
• Paycheck Message Insert - Post quick and simple ‘health tip’ messages inside employee paychecks. This is especially cost efficient if reaching a large number of employees at once.
• Social Support - Once health and wellness initiatives are in place at your facility, you might very well notice ‘social change’ occurring. Your work environment will promote health related discussions, weight loss tips and communication being exchanged on a daily basis.