Worksite Wellness
Why concern yourself with employee wellness?
- Improved productivity
- Less turnover
- Reduced sick days
- Reduced health care costs, and more.
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Eat Smart Move More |
A Health Department program started in 2002 to improve health by promoting physical activity and healthier food choices for all Missoula County residents.
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Physical activity |
Physical Activity - Missoula
Benefits of Physical Activity in the Workplace
POLICY/PROCEDURE
- financial coverage of all or part of health club membership
- breaks, flex time or paid activity time
- wellness program
- support of alternate work transportation
- dress code that allows physical activity
ENVIRONMENTAL/ACCESS
- on-site instructor/video led group classes
- equipment & instruction to promote physical activity
- mapping safe walking routes & activity areas
- increase safety and attractiveness of stairs
- showers/changing facilities
- outdoor exercise areas near work
- health club access with financial backing
- buddy systems and/or team challenges
- management modeling of walking
- bike racks
- walk & talk meetings
EDUCATION/MOTIVATION
- peer role modeling
- incentives for:
- post stair use prompt by elevators
- physical activity education
- post community physical activities at work
- activity team challenges
- after work recreation and work team leagues
onsite and work hour activities
maintaining activities
team challenges
using health clubs
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Breastfeeding in the workplace |
Studies show that exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life results in a significant overall reduced risk of overweight, from infancy through adulthood.
Rationale for supporting breastfeeding
Why a supportive breastfeeding policy is important and how to implement one
Sample breastfeeding in the workplace policy
Breastfeeding - Missoula Eat Smart
How to become a breastfeeding friendly business
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Nutrition |
Good nutrition comes from a diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and is low in processed foods, refined sugars or fats. Rewarding employees with donuts, or stocking vending machines with candy bars does not support good nutrition or re-enforce healthy eating habits.
Eat Smart: Healthy Vending Machine Suggestions
Healthy vending machine choices
Healthier choices at meetings and events
Overweight and obesity concerns - Missoula
Cheap and healthy brown bag lunches for grown-ups - WebMD
There are many other web sites that discuss healthy lunches to take to
work.
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Health Screenings |
Comprehensive Cancer Screening - Missoula
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Other resources |
TOBACCO ISSUES
- Smoking Cessation in the Work Place - a Canadian initiative
Employers Tool Box for Building a Cessation Program - Occupational Safety & Health
Missoula's Quit For Life program
Tobacco Use Reduction - how to help employees successfully quit, Indoor Air requirements.
SUICIDE PREVENTION
These sites have information on the effects of a suicide on co-workers:
- QPR - Suicide prevention training - Do you have an employee you are worried about?
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND THE WORKPLACE
- Traffic Injury Reduction - Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
- Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service Training
RELATED TOPICS
- Healthy Living - CDC - Pages on maintaining a healthy weight, preventing diabetes, nutrition, etc.
- Emergency Preparedness - Help to prepare your employees to deal with natural disasters, threatening public, or emergencies while at work.
GENERAL
- Wellness Councils of America - Promoting wellness in the workplace
- It Starts With Me - Health calculators and screening information
- Advantages of worksite wellness programs - American Heart Association
- Healthy Arkansas Worksite Wellness
- Oregon Health Services Worksites
- Wisconsin Division of Public Health - Physical Activity - has a worksite wellness kit
- Iowans Fit For Life
- Colorado Worksite Resource Kit
- Alaska Worksite Website
- Benefits of Healthy Lifestyle Choices
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Contact information |
Physical activity - Mary McCourt - 258-3686
Health screenings - Diana Reetz-Stacey - 258-3684
Tobacco issues - Erica Rollins - 258-3685
Suicide prevention - Maureen O'Malley - 258-3881
Nutrition - Rebecca Morley - 258-3827
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