Healthy Workplace Award Kit

Transcription

1 Working Toward Wellness Healthy Workplace Award Kit 2011

2 The Working Toward Wellness Healthy Workplace Awards Program Healthy workplaces lead to healthy employees which, ultimately, results in healthy companies! The Working Toward Wellness (WTW) Workplace Wellness Program, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, and Go For Health Windsor-Essex are pleased to present an expanded and revised WTW Healthy Workplace Awards Program in The purpose of the awards program is to honour local workplaces that provide comprehensive workplace wellness programming. Award recipients must demonstrate a strong commitment to improved health by promoting and supporting a comprehensive approach to wellness programming for employees, retirees, and their families. This revised program is available to all workplaces in Windsor-Essex County, regardless of the company size or how established the Workplace Wellness Program may be. The WTW Healthy Workplace Awards Program has a strong focus on workplace environmental supports and policy. Workplace Wellness Programs conducted between August 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011 will be eligible to receive a Healthy Workplace Award, which will be presented during Canada s Healthy Workplace Month, October Why Participate? Workplaces experience the economic burden of unhealthy lifestyles through extended healthcare benefits, workers compensation, and decreased productivity. Yet research has shown that an investment of $100 per employee in health promotion programs can save up to $500 per employee in increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, turnover, and injuries (Spence, et. al., 2001). Moreover, Health Canada (2007) reports a $3.40 return on investment for each corporate dollar spent on wellness initiatives. It simply makes good business sense to invest in the health of employees. EMPLOYER BENEFITS: Decreased absenteeism Reduced cost of health benefits Increased productivity Better recruitment Reduced employee turnover Improved corporate image WORKPLACE WELLNESS COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: Reduced stress Increased energy Improved overall health Reduced illness & risk of injury Healthier families Improved morale Canadian Diabetes Association Canadian Mental Health Association DJ Galvanizing Corporation Greater Essex County District School Board H. J. Heinz Company of Canada Ltd. Leamington District Memorial Hospital Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario - Windsor Branch Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Windsor Regional Hospital 2

3 Registration Process HEALTHY WORKPLACE AWARD To register for this great achievement award, please follow the easy five step registration process summarized below. STEP 1 Select the award category (Bronze-Level 1, Bronze-Level 2, Bronze-Level 3, etc.) that your workplace would like to achieve. STEP 2 To be eligible for a 2011 award, submit your Application Form and completed Tracking Form(s) for the activities you have completed between August 1, 2010 and July 31, Please provide all supporting materials such as flyers, newsletters, pictures, policies, etc., that describe your activities. STEP 3 All Tracking Forms and supporting documents must be received no later than July 31, 2011 to be eligible for an award in October, All submissions received will be reviewed and workplaces will be notified by the Go For Health Windsor-Essex Workplace Wellness Committee of the outcome of this review. A site visit by a committee member may be required to determine eligibility. STEP 4 Companies that qualify for an award will be required to submit the following, by no later than September 16, a) A photo (minimum of 3 megabytes) identifying your workplace and members of your workplace wellness team. b) A 250 word write-up highlighting your workplace wellness program policies and activities for the past year. c) Please send us three digital photos (minimum of 3 megabytes) that best capture some of your wellness activities of this past year. Please provide any captions that you would like for any of these photos (e.g., name of the activity such as blood pressure testing, healthy eating lunch and learn, sun safety display). STEP 5 Award Winners will be presented with their WTW Healthy Workplace Award at the 10th annual WTW Healthy Workplace Awards Presentation and Seminar on Wednesday, October 28, 2011 during Canada s Healthy Workplace Month. The WTW Program is pleased to offer an award re-presentation at your workplace upon request. For more information about the WTW Healthy Workplace Awards Program or how to develop and implement a wellness program for your workplace, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at ext Workplaces are encouraged to apply annually for these awards as a way of maintaining or expanding their comprehensive healthy workplace program. 3

4 THE AWARDS The WTW Healthy Workplace Awards Program 2011 highlights the importance of policy creation and implementation in the workplace. With the addition of six new award categories, workplaces are encouraged to further their wellness programs to help employees reach optimal health. COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES: 1. Awareness Raising - Information about the benefits of making healthy choices. 2. Educational Skill Building - Help to educate and develop the necessary skills to support a healthy choice. 3. Environmental Support - Create supportive physical or cultural workplace environments that strengthen and enhance healthy practices. 4. Policy Support Development - Policies to further enhance and sustain healthy practices. COMPREHENSIVE WORKPLACE WELLNESS POLICY: Specifies the commitment in mission, vision, and values regarding prevention, promotion, and organizational practices that promote and support health in the workplace. Outlines senior management and employee representation on a wellness committee. Conveys how the wellness program is to be communicated to all employees. **For Silver levels and higher: policies chosen must be from each of the three main Workplace Health Promotion Categories (Voluntary Health Practices, Occupational Health and Safety, Organizational Practices) See page 6 &7 for details. 4

5 INDIVIDUAL AWARD CRITERIA NOTE: You must provide an evaluation for at least one activity implemented (per Workplace Wellness Topic), regardless of the award level. Bronze Level 1 Choose one topic and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Level 2 Choose two topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and two other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Level 3 Choose two topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and three other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Silver ** Level 1 Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and four other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Level 2 Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and five other policies pertaining to health topics chosen.. Level 3 Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and six other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Gold ** Level 1 Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and seven other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Level 2 Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and eight other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Level 3 Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and nine other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Platinum ** Choose three topics and complete at least one activity in each of the four Comprehensive Health Promotion Strategies. Must include Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Policy and ten other policies pertaining to health topics chosen. Lifetime Excellence ** Annual certificates awarded for continuing to meet Platinum guidelines.

6 For your reference, the following is a sample of a completed Tracking Form. For more information about the WTW Healthy Workplace Awards Program or how to develop and implement a wellness program for your workplace contact: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at ext Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, October Funded by the Government of Ontario