Worksite Wellness
What is worksite wellness?
Worksite wellness refers to the education and activities that a worksite may do to promote healthy lifestyles to employees and their families. Examples of wellness programming include health education classes, subsidized use of fitness facilities, internal policies that promote healthy behaviors and any other activities, policies or environmental changes that enhance the health of employees.
What are benefits of worksite wellness programs?
Worksites produce a significant return on investment when they implement policies and environments that support healthier employees. Some of the key benefits that support return on investment for worksite wellness programs include:
- Decreased health care costs
- Reduced absenteeism
- Increased productivity
- Decreased workers' compensation and disability claims
- Improved morale and retention of valued staff
The goal of a worksite wellness program at your company is to improve workers' overall health, reduce employee absenteeism and increase job satisfaction. Many employees are turning to worksite wellness programs to help employees adopt healthier lifestyles and lower their risk of developing chronic disease.
What is the Health Department's Worksite Wellness Program?
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has developed a program to support large-sized companies (over 500 employees) and medium-sized companies (from 100 to 499 employees) in Pierce County. Staff will assist your company to identify areas of interest and provide technical assistance towards achieving sustainable goals.
What are some best practices for worksites?
- Promote physical activity breaks, stair usage and walking groups.
- Become a tobacco-free worksite.
- Allow flexible work schedules to give employees time to exercise.
- Provide tobacco cessation benefits to your employees.
- Offer fitness classes and equipment on-site.
- Offer healthy foods and beverages at meetings, in cafeterias and in vending machines.
- Promote free and low-cost recreation activities.
- Promote farmers markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
- Provide private rooms and flexible scheduling for breast feeding, milk pumping and on-site refrigerated storage.
- Promote the Washington State Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800- QUIT-NOW or online at www.quitline.com.
Employer Resources:
Worksite Wellness Toolkit - If you would like to view individual sections of the toolkit, click the links below.
- What is Worksite Wellness
- Return on Investment
- Worksite Wellness Program Checklist
- Healthy Meals and Refreshments Sample Policy
- Tobacco Free Campus Sample Policy
- Worksite Wellness Resources
National Healthy Worksite Program
Pierce County employers are invited to apply for the National Healthy Worksite Program. The deadline has been extended to April 15, 2012.
Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA)
WLCOA offers a step-by-step blueprint to help employers design and implement worksite wellness programs, and also recognizes excellence in worksite health promotions via its prestigious awards program.
Partnership for Prevention
Two useful publications for employers, "Leading by Example: The Value of Worksite Health Promotion to Small and Medium-Sized Employers," and "Leading by Example: Creating Healthy Communities through Corporate Engagement."
The Worksite Wellness Resource Kit
The Worksite Wellness Resource Kit outlines the importance of worksite wellness programs, example program strategies, policies and environmental approaches, resources and assessment tools.
Community Prevention Services
The Community Guide - A guide to community prevention services. Worksite policies and programs that may help employees reduce health risks and improve their quality of life.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC provides information about the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding needs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
"The CDC Guide to Fruit & Vegetable-Strategies to Increase Access, Availability and Consumption" is a guide to assist in reducing the barriers employees may have in accessing healthy fruits and vegetables.
