Benefits of a healthy workplace

2

Overview

• What is a healthy workplace?

• Comprehensive workplace health

• Putting it into practice

Healthy workplace defined

• A healthy workplace integrates the following three

elements to achieve optimal health of its people and its

business:– Health and lifestyle practices (availability of resources and support

of employees’ efforts to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle practices)

– Organizational culture (attitudes, values and beliefs demonstrated in the workplace on a daily basis that impact the well-being of employees)

– Physical work environment

Source: The definition of a healthy workplace is consistent withmodels promoted by Health Canada, the National Quality Institute,the Ontario Healthy Workplace Coalition, and the Forum on theAdvancement of Healthy Workplaces

Why is a healthy workplace important?

• 16 million adult Canadians spend half of their waking

hours at work — the environments in which people

live, learn, work and play have a significant impact on

health (Public Health Agency of Canada)

• Healthy employees have higher morale, are more

productive, and report higher levels of job satisfaction (Public Health Agency of Canada)

• Absenteeism costs are in excess of 15 billion dollars a

year in Canada (Buffet Taylor Report 2003)

Benefits to employees

• Improved fitness, health, and lifestyle

• Improved work/life balance

• Improved morale and engagement

• Improved team spirit and job satisfaction

• Reduced stress and incidences of injury

• Enhanced relationships with co-workers

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

Benefits within the workplace

• Reduced absenteeism and turnover

• Reduced benefits claims

• Enhanced recruitment and retention

• Enhanced reputation

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

The evidence: benefits within the workplace

• Healthier employees: – In the first six months of Toronto’s “Metro Fit” program,

municipal employees saw marked improvements in their health and resilience and reported 3.5 fewer sick days

– MDS Nordion employees enjoyed similar health benefits and were sick less often than in previous years (fewer than 4 days per year compared with the Canadian average of 7.4 days per year)

• Continuity in the workplace:– BC Hydro employees enrolled in the fitness program had a

turnover rate of 3.5% compared to the company average of 10.3%

The evidence: benefits to employees

• Increasing physical activity to at least 30 minutes per

day at least 5 days per week lowers the risk of

developing coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2

diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer by

30 – 50% (National Association of Physical Activity and Health)

• Within 48 hours of stopping smoking, chances of

having a heart attack start to decrease– within 1 year, risk of suffering a smoking-related heart attack is

cut in half

– within 10 years, risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half

– Within 15 years, the risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a person who never smoked (Health Canada)

The evidence: benefits to employees (cont’d)

• Workplace stair-climbing interventions: Climbing

two flights of stairs per day can lead to a 2.7 kg (5.9

lbs) weight loss over one year

• Six flights a day can lead to an 8.2 kg (18 lbs) weight

loss over one year

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

Comprehensive workplace health

Comprehensive workplace health

• Effective workplace health programs are

comprehensive in nature and scope:– Planned using relevant data such as a survey or needs assessment

– Participation from all levels of the institution

– Addresses employee health

– Addresses the broader work environment and culture

– Evaluated and adapted to meet changing nature of work force and needs of employees

Source: Conference Board of Canada

We can all play a role

• Leadership commitment

• Support by managers and supervisors of committee

members

• Inclusive committee — diverse group of members

from all across campus

• Departmental workplace champions

• Lead by example

• Encourage co-workers and colleagues to participate

Current healthy workplace practices at CU• Employee and Family Assistance Program

• Membership to Athletics

• Comprehensive benefits plan

• Learning and development program

• Career development fund for professional growth

• On-site Health and Counselling Services

• Paid leave during annual Christmas holiday shutdown

• Free tuition for employees, their dependents and spouses

Current healthy workplace practices at CU (cont’d)• Maternity leave with 95% salary top up and parental leave

• Special leave opportunities (medical/dental/legal

appointments; personal or self-funded leave plans; and

more)

• Recognition initiatives with annual Employee Appreciation

Day, and awards program

• Guaranteed housing loan up to $20,000 payable over 20

years

• Career opportunities, meaningful work, safe environment,

and more

Putting it into practice

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Healthy Workplace Committee

• 12 members, including:– Ed Kane (Chair)

– Stephen Belanger (Physical Plant)

– Thomas Garvey (School of Industrial Design)

– Marija Gojmerac (School for Studies in Art and Culture — FASS)

– Irvin Hill (Equity Services)

– Bruce Marshall (Athletics)

– Maria McClintock (University Communications)

– Laura Newton Miller (MacOdrum Library)

– Maureen Murdock (Health and Counselling Services)

– Valerie Pereboom (Office of the Dean of Public Affairs)

– Christa Pigeon (Info Carleton)

– Carolina Willsher (Human Resources)

Healthy Workplace Committee (cont’d)

• Meet once a month (three meetings held to date)

• Creating a solid foundation to build on:– Terms of Reference

– Logo/identity exercise

– Mission and vision

– Setting goals and objectives

• Looking ahead:– Decision to follow National Quality Institute Healthy Workplace

Progressive Excellence Program

– Survey of employees

Programs/events hosted to date

• April 21: Office Yoga workshop– Registration maxed out, 29 on waiting list

• May 6: The Secrets to Successful Budgeting workshop– Registration maxed out, 4 on waiting list

• May 19: Get Active Your Way workshop– 8 participants

• May 28: Everyday in May walk (Congress tour)– 12 participants and positive feedback

• Everyday in May Physical Activity Challenge– 168 activity logs returned

– Tremendous response (testimonials and photos online)

• Commuter Challenge– 40 participants saved 582kg of GHG

Upcoming events

• Health Expo at Summer Fest featuring:– Nutrition Headquarters

• Ask the dietician

• Sample healthy food items from Aramark

– Massage therapy

– Great-West Life

– Family Services Ottawa (EFAP provider)

– Literature table

– Sunscreen and sun facts

Programs/events hosted to date

• Workplace walking program

• Health and Wellness Expo (October)

Communication actions to date• Announcement in March issue of Carleton Now

• Committee photo in May issue of Carleton Now

• Story in June issue of Carleton Now

• Profile in ThisWeek@FASS e-newsletter

• Website live June 4

• Email announcement/memo from President Runte

• Announcements in Today@Carleton

• Main CU web page photo with link to story in CN

Upcoming • Article in Fitness Now

What’s next?

Commitment from senior management

Establish healthy workplace committee

Understand needs of employees

Create a health plan to address those needs

Implement the plan (education, events, resources)

Evaluate and refine

We need to provide the means for employees to make healthy lifestyle choices — and make those

choices easy ones

Questions, comments and feedback are most welcome!