Fit Wellness into Your Workplace
By Sue MacPhail
From the time they drive off in the morning until they set their feet back in their homes, Canadians spend on average 10.5 hours of their day at work or commuting1. With so much of an individual’s day dedicated to work activities, the workplace has become a critical setting for health promotion.
While individuals reap many of the benefits of making healthy choices, their employers can often gain from them as well. The benefits to employers of having a healthy workforce include higher employee morale, greater productivity, higher employee retention rates, reduced absenteeism, and lower compensation and disability costs. However, a study conducted in 2001 by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute noted that only 29 per cent of BC organizations had programs to improve health, physical fitness, or nutrition at their workplace2.
A workplace wellness program can be an important part of any business’ HR strategy. A 2007-2008 Towers Perrin Global Workforce Studyshowed that the most powerful influencer of employee engagement was found to be “the knowledge that senior management is sincerely interested in my well-being.”3 A key factor in the success of workplace wellness programs is having senior management and the CEO’s support and demonstrating to employees that workplace wellness is a priority by dedicating the needed personnel and financial resources to support it.
Often businesses think they cannot offer a workplace wellness program. Smaller businesses especially face this challenge as they often have less time and resources. In order to overcome these challenges, the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia’s Healthy Families BC initiative, have created WellnessFits, a free comprehensive workplace wellness program. WellnessFits offers the resources and support organizations need to create healthy workplace programs, including online tools and information on healthy eating, physical activity, healthy minds, being tobacco-free, and sun and UV awareness. There are options to address the different needs of small, medium and large businesses. The program is enhanced by customer support and consultation via phone, email and on-site visits.
An important element of a good wellness program is focusing on employees’ needs and interests, regardless of their current level of fitness. A number of businesses throughout BC have found creative ways of adapting the WellnessFits activities to meet their employees’ needs and interests. For example, employees at the Prince George branch of Integris Credit Union participated in a WellnessFits physical activity challenge and gave back to the community at the same time. Branch staff volunteered to walk dogs at the local SPCA during their lunch hour. Not only did they increase their daily physical activity levels, but they enjoyed contributing to a good cause. The success of any wellness program also depends on employee involvement, so it only makes sense to involve employees in the wellness program planning process. This can be done through a wellness committee, who contribute to the development of the program and motivate participation.
If you are looking for an opportunity to introduce workplace health to your organization, then do it this month. October is Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month, an initiative that helps organizations create healthy workplaces with benefits for both employees and employers. There are many easy ways to get started in creating a healthier workplace. Here are a few quick tips to get started today:
- Provide employees with a refrigerator and lunch room.
- Serve healthy alternatives at company lunches, meetings and celebrations
- Promote taking the stairs at work
- Have an ergonomics expert asses your employee’s work areas
- Promote local community events and recreation facilities such as fun runs, parks and gyms
- Organize a pedometer challenge to encourage people to increase the number of steps they take in a day
- Bring in policies that promote a balance between work and personal life
To learn more about the WellnessFits program, visit wellnessfits.ca or contact us at 1-855-939-9355 or wellnessfits@bc.cancer.ca.
Sue MacPhail is the WellnessFits Coordinator at the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon. She has over 15 years of professional experience in business management and for the last four years has worked in health promotion for the Canadian Cancer Society. She currently brings her passion for health and wellness to the workplace as she helps organizations create healthy workplaces with WellnessFits, a new and innovative workplace wellness program.
[1]Canadian Fitness Lifestyle Research Institute. Workplace Health System Series (1998) No 2. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/occup-travail/juggling_home_work/index_e.htm[2]Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (2001). Increasing Physical Activity at Work Supporting an active workforce. Www.cflri.ca/pdf/e/2001pam.pd
[3]Towers Perrin. 2007. The Evolving Global Workforce: Insights, Strategies and Solutions. 2007-2008
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