A Shared Mandate

• Go For Health Windsor-Essex– To provide leadership for collaborative

action towards healthy living, for wellness, and the reduction of chronic disease in Windsor-Essex County.

• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit– Provides Ontario Public Health Standards.– Workplace is one of four key health

promotion sectors.– Covers a wide range of health promotion

and health protection topics and services.

Why Workplace Health?

– Reach large segment of the population

• 61% over 15 years work

– Most workers spend 1/3 of waking hours at work

– “Workplace” definitely impacts health

– Impacts workers directly and retirees and families indirectly

– Provides social and environmental supports

– Everybody wins!

• Workplace Wellness Programs Provide a Win-Win-Win-Win Opportunity

Winning Opportunity

Employer Benefits

• Improved corporate image

• Reduced employee turnover

• Employee recruitment incentive

• Reduced recruitment and training costs

• Healthier, more productive work force

• Reduced employee absenteeism

• Reduced cost of benefits

Employee Benefits

• Improved morale• Healthier and happier workplace• Improved health behaviours• Improved health risk profile• Reduced stress• More vitality and less fatigue• More resistance to illness• Less prone to injuries• Healthier families and friends

Workplace Wellness

• Nationally recognized, workplace wellness program

• Chrysler Canada Inc. (National)• Spectra Energy (National)• Corporation of the City of Windsor• Over 260 local workplaces – basic

level

WTW Program

• The primary goal of the Working Toward Wellness Workplace Wellness Program is to improve the health and well-being of workers, retirees, and their families in the communities in which they live.

• Program offers consultation and support to help workplaces start, expand and maintain their wellness program

Who Do We Reach?

• Approximately 260 workplaces are offered the base version of the WTW Program (representing about 92,000 workers)

• Approximately 15 - 24 workplaces have regularly participated (about 10,000 – 36,000 workers)

Wellness Program Structure

• Population health-based program

• Wellness committees

• 3 theme-based wellness initiatives yearly

• 27 initiatives since 2002

• 10 – 12 core components

Core Components

• Newsletter

• Personal Health Guide

• Monthly Initiative-RelatedE-Bulletins

• Employee Contests

• Promotional Ideas

• Display Materials

• Wellness Committee Support

• Community Resources and Agency Linkages

• Online Access to Components

• E-Connects

• “Kick off Event” Ideas

• Environmental/Policy Development Ideas and Support

Healthy Workplace Awards

• The Working Toward Wellness Workplace Wellness Awards recognize local workplaces that provide comprehensive workplace wellness programming

• A focus on policy development and implementation

• Workplace Wellness programs and activities carried out between August 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011 will be eligible for an award in October, 2011

Award levels include:

• Bronze (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)

• Silver (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)

• Gold (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)

• Platinum

• Lifetime Excellence

Bike Friendly Awards

Bike Friendly Awards

• The Bike Friendly Workplace Awards recognize local workplaces that provide support to employees who choose to commute to work by bicycle.

• A Bike Friendly Workplace Award is an excellent way for an organization to gain recognition for their commitment to employee health.

EBSF

• The purpose of the Executive Breakfast Series Forum (EBSF) is to target key decision makers, and wellness leaders to identify, advocate and develop policies that support employees in improving their overall health and well-being at the worksite and beyond.

• This forum is offered on an annual basis with various workplace wellness topics and speakers.

Mark Your Calendars

Champion Companies: Investing in Employees and a Best Place to Work

Presented by: Dr. Edington

Wednesday June 1, 2011

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ciociaro Club – Salon A

3745 North Talbot,

Oldcastle ON.

Alcohol & Drug Policy

• The purpose of the workshop series is to promote, educate, and support the development of alcohol and drug policies in area workplaces.

• This workshop is offered on an annual basis to key decision makers and wellness leaders in Windsor-Essex County workplaces.

Contact us:

Windsor-Essex County Health UnitEssex County Civic Centre

360 Fairview Avenue West, Suite 215Essex, ON N8M 3G4

(519) 258-2146 ext. 3101www.wechealthunit.org

Thank you! Any questions?