CREATING A HEALTHY WORKPLACE ON A LIMITED BUDGET

Transcription

1 CREATING A HEALTHY WORKPLACE ON A LIMITED BUDGET Breakout Session The Ultimate Bottom Line: Creating a Culture of Wellness for Your Employees Moline, Illinois; September 10, 2013 Presented by: Jennifer Hall, EdD, MCHES Outreach Director & Research Support Manager University of Iowa Healthier Workforce Center for Excellence jennifer-l-hall@uiowa.edu

2 PURPOSE & OUTLINE Introduce the University of Iowa Healthier Workforce Center for Excellence (UI HWCE) & Small Business Outreach Project Introduce the concept of Total Worker Health (TWH) Share Free and Low Cost Strategies for a Healthier and Safer Workforce

3 UI HWCE Mission: Improve the health of workers in Iowa and nationally through integrated health promotion and health protection research, collaboration, and dissemination of successful interventions. Outreach Program Goals Identify and promote Total Worker Health best and promising practices Serve as a state and national education and policy resource for employee health programs, employee health services and employee health policy Target small employers and those with limited resources One of Four NIOSH Total Worker Health Centers of Excellence

4 SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH PROJECT

5 TOTAL WORKER HEALTH Concept initiated by the National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) and supported by the UI HWCE Promotes integration of health protection (safety) and health promotion (wellness) Supports and promotes work-life balance Looks at the employee as a whole: What affects a person at work, affects them at home; and what affects a person at home, affects them at work

6 FREE AND LOW-COST STRATEGIES FOR A HEALTHIER AND SAFER WORKFORCE

7 CREATING A CULTURE OF WELLNESS (TWH) ON A LIMITED BUDGET Make health, wellness and safety part of your mission and values

8 MULTI-LEVEL LEADERSHIP

9 POLICIES

10 WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT

11 WORKPLACE DESIGN

12 SIGNS

13 PLANTS AND FLOWERS

14 ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO SWAP CHAIRS

15 WELLNESS BOARDS

16 COMMUNICATING INFORMATION & OPPORTUNITIES Wellness Boards Mini-libraries Signs & Posters Newsletters Social Media Meetings Lunch-n-Learns During other programs (ex. Group stretching)

17 MAKE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE

18 NEWSLETTERS & BULLETINS

19 SOCIAL MEDIA Sense of belonging Positive peer pressure Motivation to self and others Increases participation Access to tools and resources Self-assessments, calculators, support groups, Healthy recipes, programs, activities Games, challenges, competitions Recognition of leaders and champions Tools: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube

20 ENCOURAGE MOVEMENT American Medical Association encourages employers to provide alternatives to sitting (June, 2013) Prolonged sitting with little movement negatively impacts one s health and reduces productivity Active employees reduce levels of presenteeism, absenteeism, injuries, disability compensation, health care costs and life insurance costs Movement fosters greater concentration and engagement; refreshes energy levels and focus; boosts productivity; and improves overall employee health, wellness and safety

21 IDEAS FOR MOVING MORE DURING THE WORKDAY Standing meetings, standing during conference calls Walking programs, walking clubs, walking meetings Encourage stair use and improve staircase environment Stretching programs, stretch breaks Support frequent breaks Pedometer programs (FULL Office equipment BLEED PHOTO) (standing desks, standing workstations, isometric ball chairs)

22 STANDING MEETINGS (FULL BLEED PHOTO)

23 STANDING DESKS

24 STANDING WORKSTATIONS

25 WALKING PROGRAMS & CLUBS

26 INDOOR WALKING PATHS (FULL BLEED PHOTO)

27 MAPPED WALKING ROUTES

28 ENCOURAGE STAIR USE

29 STRETCHING PROGRAMS

30 GROUP STRETCHING PROGRAMS

31 INDIVIDUAL STRETCHING PROGRAMS

32 WHEN STRETCHING BECOMES PART OF THE CULTURE

33 FREQUENT BREAKS May help lower risk related to waist circumference, BMI and triglyceride levels Free downloadable programs alert you to take short breaks, stretch and move Workrave Big Stretch Reminder Program Schedule breaks and program personal calendar reminders

34 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY One of the most effective disease prevention strategies (Centers for Disease Control) Promote and support area events and races (create company teams) Flexible time for exercise programs/classes Onsite fitness equipment Pedometer programs Promote physical fitness challenges and competitions Encourage online health tracking tools Gym or fitness equipment reimbursements Onsite bike racks, showers, lockers or fitness center

35 PROMOTE AREA EVENTS & RACES

36 PEDOMETER PROGRAMS (FULL BLEED PHOTO)

37 COMPETITIONS & CHALLENGES

38 FITNESS EQUIPMENT

39 HEALTH MONITORING EQUIPMENT

40 ONLINE HEALTH TRACKING TOOLS & INTERNET-BASED PROGRAMS Effective for personal tracking of diet, calorie intake, blood pressure, diabetes, fitness and more Online health assessment tools Social support groups Promotional materials for employee health, wellness & safety Community Health Charities Health Matters At Work

41 HEALTHY EATING

42 OFFER HEALTHY CHOICES AT EVENTS

43 HEALTHY OPTIONS DURING MEETINGS

44 OFFER FREE OR LOW-COST FRESH FRUIT

45 OFFER A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

46 HEALTHY VENDING OPTIONS

47 ON-SITE GARDENS

48 MAKE WATER ACCESSIBLE

49

50 MAKE IT FUN!

51 MAKE IT SEASONAL

52 YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING

53 OFFER INCENTIVES & REWARDS Relate incentive/reward to program activity Types of Incentives: Gift cards, Visa cards, water bottles, stress balls, bike helmets, home safety kits Share success stories of wellness & safety champions

54 Promote an injury-free workplace: No one likes to get hurt or see their families or co-workers hurt Employees that feel safe are happier, healthier and more productive Offer classes and trainings, ergonomics programs, housekeeping, off-the-job safety programs

55 A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTS OVERALL WELLBEING & HEALTH

56 PROVIDE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

57 TAKING PPE & ON-THE-JOB SAFETY HOME

58 PROMOTING OFF-THE-JOB SAFETY Off-the-job injuries occur nearly 3 times as often to on-the-job injuries and lead to increased healthcare costs, increased absenteeism and decreased productivity Way employers can show they truly care for the well-being of employees and their families at work, at home and in the community Topics: Vehicle safety, falls prevention, home fire safety, first aid, stretching/flexibility, electrical safety, proper lifting, seasonal safety topics

59 CLOSING COMMENTS Understand that employee health, wellness and safety is the right thing to do and it does not have to be expensive. It can even be free. Start small and try a variety of activities. Don t give up if participation is low. Get employee feedback in planning and implementation Provide opportunities during paid time Take a Total Worker Health Approach Integrate health protection (safety) and health promotion (wellness) Look at the worker as a whole

60 HWCE ONLINE RESOURCES Healthier Workforce Monthly e-bulletin: Sign up at Social Media Channels Pinterest at pinterest.com/iowatwh Facebook: Healthier Workforce Center for Excellence Website: Calendar of Events, Model Programs, Information and Resources Supporting Employee Health Programs

61 THANK YOU!