January 23, 2015

Good Afternoon What a busy month! January is flying by! I have been working on committees on a couple of exciting workshop opportunities for you to learn new skills and expand your knowledge of workplace wellness! I hope to see you at both events! First on March 4th our Physical Activity Coordinator and I are planning an exciting opportunity for you to learn about physical activity at work and why it is so important. See the information segment below for more information about what you will learn and how to register! Registration now http://activeatwork.eventbrite.com Second – Mark your calendars for May 27th to come to the beautiful city of Stratford to hear Dr. Graham Lowe (workplace wellness expert) www.grahamlowe.ca/ to learn how to get started on building a viable and sustainable wellness program that provides real benefit to your employees and your business! Workplace Wellness: Moving Forward! Early Bird registration begins for this event on March 2nd!

DID you KNOW? Health Canada offers a calendar of special health promotion themes on their website. The dates and events listed are health-related awareness days, weeks and months that have been announced by recognized health organizations. The themes can serve as ideas for great topics to introduce new information or resources in your workplace wellness efforts. I am including the list for January and February. Click on each title for more information and access to resources.

January

Alzheimer Awareness Month

Hot Tea Month

National Non-Smoking Week January 18 to January 24

Weedless Wednesday January 21

Family Literacy Day

January 27*

February

Heart Month Psychology Month

Eating Disorders Awareness Week February 1 to February 7

White Cane Week

February 1 to February 7

World Cancer Day

February 4*

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation February 6*

Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day

February 14*

Pink Shirt Day

February 25

PLEASE NOTE….

In keeping with my promise to highlight the results obtained by 9 workplaces

through the 2014 Physical Activity Grant Opportunity,

this newsletter features The Salvation Army Centre of Hope and their great

accomplishments.

You will find their story at the end of the newsletter!

Are you and Your Employees…

“Active at Work”? …it matters more than you think!

Improve productivity in your workplace by increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior Find out how Workplace Wellness Programs can improve your ROI

When: Wednesday March 4, 2015 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Where: BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street London, Ontario, N5Z 0A3

Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m.; speakers follow at 8:15 a.m. Speakers featured: Dr. Shauna Burke: School of Health Sciences, Western University Dr. Michael Rouse: Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University

Registration Fee: $25.00 (register before February 26th) Your registration fee Includes:

a healthy breakfast

a tote bag of great resources to get your workplace active right away!

the opportunity to learn from experts and other workplaces

an chance to experience the facilities at the BMO Centre

Who should attend this workshop?

Wellness committee representatives

Anyone in your organization who is concerned with the cost of employee absenteeism and benefits as well as improving employee productivity

For registration and information: http://activeatwork.eventbrite.com This workshop is being provided to you by funding provided by the Ontario Government to the In Motion and Health at Work 4 All! programs

See You There!

Parenting-ages 2 to 18 years Supporting employees to increase their skills and knowledge about positive

parenting, effective discipline strategies, communication and community

resources can foster a healthy integration of work and personal responsibilities.

A variety of resources are available including pamphlets, posters,

displays and presentations.

To request a class at your organization for groups of 10 or more, or to

register for one of our classes, call 519-663-5317 ext.2378.

For more information on parenting check out www.iparent.com

For the upcoming parenting classes in our community check out www.healthunit.com/triple-p-classes

For more information contact Sheila Hattie Miller, Parenting Coordinator Middlesex London Health Unit

519 663 5317 ext. 2271.

Vortex of Invincibility From: Steve Olsher (2013) What Is Your WHAT: Discover The One Amazing Thing You Were Born To Do. Wiley & Sons

Recognize the areas of your life where your soul is wired to soar. Direct your life toward the people, interactions, and activities that bring you the most joy.

Hone in on your natural strengths.

Identify when you typically achieve emotional nirvana.

Figure out why you're naturally drawn to some people and repulsed by others.

Replicate the actions and embody the character traits of those you admire.

Understand your personal victories to determine the areas where you'll flourish.

Accept your Gifts as fundamental parts of who you are.

Consider who's in -your Circle of Four, and proactively choose to make required changes.

Recognize your strengths. If necessary, recruit family and friends to help. The more you concentrate on areas of your life that breed victory, the happiest you'll be (pg. 45).

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP CENTER 614-292-3114 (phone) www.leadershipcenter.osu.edu

Institute for Work and Health - January 2015 Monthly news and research findings from the Institute for Work & Health -

CIHR training program on aging and work now open for registration

In partnership with the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), IWH is

hosting an advanced training program on health, wellness and participation of

older adults in the world of work. The Summer Program on Aging 2015, to be

held June 1 to 5, is aimed at graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with an

interest in research on such issues as health, safety and productivity in an aging

workforce. Registration is open now until January 26.

Find out more

World of Psychology - Psych Central Newsletter newsletter@psychcentral.com

Why Compliments are Powerful "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."

Feeling Down? 3 Attitude Changers

Are you buzz-killing your own joy? Here’s how to tell...

Smart Phone Fitness Apps Need to Support Behavioral Change

While most apps provide an opportunity for social networking and feedback, few incorporate proven behavioral change techniques.

5 Tips to Live with Greater Confidence

When you fail or experience an unexpected challenge, your confidence can take a shot. Here's how to

bounce back.

Optimism Is Heart Healthy

People who see the glass as half full have significantly better cardiovascular health than those who are more cynical. In fact, individuals with the highest levels of optimism had twice the odds of being in ideal

cardiovascular health.

.

Are you an entrepreneur in London, Ontario? Looking to grow your venture and network with others? Want to learn about resources available in London to accelerate your business?

then...

Eye on Enterprise is a must-attend event for you! Presented by the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), Eye on Enterprise is a half-day event with a robust line-up of local speakers and resources with an entrepreneurial focus.

Featuring Keynote: Manjit Minhas, President, Mountain Crest Liquors Inc. A formidable speaker, Manjit Minhas is an "Up and Coming CEO" (National Post) who shares business lessons with equal parts force and finesse. Minhas runs a $150 million brewery-the 10th largest worldwide-that she helped build from scratch. Her unprecedented success demolished stereotypes, surprised her competitors, and cleared a path for entrepreneurs of every age and gender.

Be our guest at this exciting and informative morning. For a complimentary ticket to

attend Eye on Enterprise

Register NOW using the promo code: SBC

WHEN: Feb. 3, 2015 | 7:30 - 11:30am

WHERE: The London Convention Centre, 300 York St., London For a complete list of speakers, agenda and registration details visit www.eyeonenterprise.eventbrite.ca

.

.

London Small Business Centre 316 Rectory St. London, Ontario N5W 3V9 (519) 659-2882

240 Commissioners Road West, Unit 104, London, ON N6J 1Y1 infolondon@homecarephs.com

226-663-8209

PremierHomecareLondon.com

How Seniors Can Protect Themselves Against Fraud By adopting basic, but effective habits, seniors can keep the fraudsters at bay. Why are they such a target? Many have generous natures, are at home more often, may be isolated, and there are those that may be less technology-savvy than they’d like to be. Read more >>

One in Four Canadians Look After Loved Ones Eight million Canadians -- more than one in four -- provides care to a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member or friend according to Statistics Canada. Read more >>

Go to the site

Be a leader worth following. Register now and receive the super early-bird rate of $99 per person. There is a widespread desire for leaders who are truly remarkable and authentic in London,

Ontario.

On Friday May 8th, strengthen your leadership by engaging the wisdom of world-class speakers

and leaders including, Seth Godin, Malala Yousafzai, Ed Catmull, Andy Stanley, Aja Brown, Bill

McDermott, Rorke Denver, and

Rudy Guiliani.

Event: Leadercast - London, Ontario

Date: Friday May 8, 2015 - 9:00am - 4:30pm

Cost: $99 per person (only until February 28, 2015)

Registration & Pricing

Check out the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) January newsletter for lots of great opportunities to educate yourself and your colleagues about many different aspects of Mental Illness and Mental Health http://us3.campaign-

archive2.com/?u=924cba905509a8662ee84836d&id=783515d2bf&e=e7238bfb87

Effective Managers Must reads December 2014

Dwight Mihalicz MBA, CMC contact - dwight@effectivemanagers.com

The Unique and Critical Role of The CEO Across all sectors and industries, CEOs face tremendous pressure. They’re often expected to create more profit with fewer resources and deliver more results in less time while meeting rising shareholder expectations.

Yes, the CEO job is a very complex one. It is the most senior paid position in the organization. It is the position in an organization where the “buck stops”.

Keep Reading

You Can’t Do Everything Yourself: Learn The Importance of Delegating Delegation is at the heart of what managers do. One of the first lessons frontline managers learn is that they will be more effective and get more work done if they delegate than if they try to do everything themselves.

Keep Reading

If Decisions Were Easy, You Wouldn’t Be Paid to Make Them: Why Your Decision Making is Critical to Success One of my first managers once told me, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” That saying has stuck with me to this day. Essentially, it means that if you waste too much time trying to perfect your work, you can...

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What You Need To Know About Creating Employee Engagement in Your Organization I recently read an interview in Fast Company on the dismal state of employee engagement in the American workforce. Jim Harter, Ph.D., heads up Gallup’s research on employee engagement. Using 263 research studies across...

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Mike Kerr - Inspiring workplaces: The way work ought to be January 21, 2015

What Happens in Vegas... A series of Harvard Business Review articles looked at the phenomenon of "organizational

silence": employees withholding information that could be of value to the organization. The

researchers found that managers often under appreciate the tremendous cost of organizational

silence. Many managers wrongly assume that if employees are talking to them then they must not

be holding back on anything. But the researchers found that 42% of employees who spoke up

about problems or offered ideas also withheld important information, for two primary reasons:

they felt it was a waste of time or they feared the personal consequences. So what can a workplace

do to encourage more open and honest communication? A few thoughts... (read the entire article

by following the link below….)

- Don't just slap up suggestion boxes and think you're done….

- Actions speak louder than words….

- Trust is the key to more honest communication. …

- Those of you old enough to remember my favorite sitcom as a kid, Get Smart, you may recall the

Cone of Silence. Okay, so you don't need to become cone heads...but creating a safe space for

confidential, intense conversations can help….

- Inject more humor into your workplace….

- Try adding a "whine and cheese" section to your meetings

- Add a “rumor mill” portion to the agenda where people can bring forward rumors in a more

playful manner: “So…the word on the street is…”.

Read the entire article here….

http://archive.aweber.com/humor_at_work/Ocx.L/h/Inspiring_Workplaces_What.ht

The Salvation Army Centre of Hope in downtown London employs about 150 staff who work

under very mentally and physically challenging circumstances on a daily basis.

The stress levels faced by staff here never go away - day after day! Ways to adjust and handle

this stressful environment on a daily basis are so very important for them to

be able to cope and to perform on a personal and professional level, while remaining a

steadfast, constant and much needed support for their clients and the community.

What did they do?

A friendly walking/running/stair climbing challenge and a special Lunch and Laugh

session were organized through the use of the Physical Activity grant funds received

through the Health at Work 4 All! program at MLHU.

The “Lunch and Laugh for Mental Health” featured a DVD of a Christian Comedian and all

staff were invited to de-stress with a laugh during their lunch break.

How did they do it?

Ten pedometers were purchased and shared amongst the staff departments. (The Centre of

Hope covered a slight cost over-run on the cost of the pedometers above the $200 grant funds).

On a rotating basis, one representative from each department signed out a pedometer to wear

during their shift, each day of the month.

The challenge was to see which department could log the highest number of “steps” during the

month of October. In all, 150 staff from 10 different departments participated in the challenge.

At the end of October, the Front desk/Security department emerged as the winning department

with a total of 579,596 steps with the Environmental Services being close behind in second

place with 569,262 steps. AMAZING!

The Salvation Army Centre of Hope

281 Wellington St. London

What did they accomplish?

Sarah Collins, my contact at the Centre of Hope for the grant program reported that as a result

of the challenge, staff are now taking the stairs more often, taking walking/running breaks

and trying to outdo themselves every day! Sarah notes that, “Making a Difference with each

step we take” applies to the work we do here at the Centre of Hope with our residents

and the community we serve each day.”

The Future?

The pedometers will continue to be used for future challenges throughout the year!

A healthy workplace policy was not developed yet, but it is on their radar for the near future!

To sustain the momentum begun with the Physical Activity Grant, The Centre of Hope started

2015 off with a “walking and hydration challenge” for staff and they report that

they have lots of other fun and educational initiatives in their future plans! WAY to GO Centre

of Hope!!

Congratulations! The Workplace Wellness program at The Salvation

Army Centre of Hope is off and running!

Today’s Hot topics on the MLHU web-site – check them out at www.healthunit.com

Keep your baby safe and warm in the car seat. Learn how and you could win convertible car seat! Learn More

Cancer matters. Rethink Your Drinking and reduce the health risks associated with alcohol use. Learn More →

A couple of quick notes from Sandy…. I do hope you will consider having representatives from your wellness

committee attend the Active at Work workshop on March 4th!

Physical inactivity – not moving enough – is costing employers a lot in terms

of increased benefit costs and absenteeism and decreased productivity.

You will learn how the lack of physical activity may be affecting the

workforce and the “Bottom Line” of your organisation!

Come to the workshop to learn some simple and quick ways to change

your workplace into an Active Workplace!

As an added bonus each workplace attending will receive a tote bag

stuffed full of valuable resources that can be used in your workplaces

to enable the change to a more active workforce to take place

immediately!

I look forward to seeing you there!

Also, Please Note, The “ocean is calling me again” and so, I will be on

vacation from February 2-13th!

Please leave me a voice or email message and I will respond to you as soon

as I can on my return to work, February 17th.

If you need something before I return. Please call extension 2413 and

leave a message for Berthe Streef

Because of my vacation, the next Health at Work 4 All! e-update

Newsletter will not come to your inbox until February 20th.

‘Till next time…..

Sandy Richardson R.N., B.Sc.N., CCHN (C)

Public Health Nurse Healthy Workplace Program Lead Middlesex London Health Unit

50 King Street, London Ontario N6A 5L7 Phone 519-663-5317 ext. 2412 Healthy Workplace Line ext. 3333