Dealing with wellness and lifestyle issues. DEPT OF MEDICINE AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, CRI

Transcription

1 Dealing with wellness and lifestyle issues. DEPT OF MEDICINE AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, CRI

2 Workplace Health refers to efforts to assist employees (and their families) to make voluntary lifestyle changes to better their health status. Comprehensive workplace health is a term used to describe a series of interrelated components(occupational Health and safety, Voluntary Health practices and Organizational change) that impact the health of employees.

3 Occupational health and safety includes efforts to reduce the physical and chemical hazards in a work environment with the goal of reducing work-related injury, illness and disability: Voluntary health practices Workplaces are a good setting to support health promotion in itiatives such as good nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, drug and alcohol use, immunization, policy change e.t.c.

4 Organizational Change Work culture plays a big role in employee wellness and productivity. A poor organizational culture can induce stress and may invariably predispose to medical conditions like Hypertension which in turn affects productivity.

5 Why is workplace health so important? Majority of employees spend one-half of their waking hours at work. Workplace creates a social environment through interaction of people with relationship building, thus has a strong impact on the mental and physical health of employees e.g decisions, policies and protocols. The social environment addresses human needs such as sense of belonging, purpose and mission,, sense of control, freedom from harassment and discrimination.

6 ) The physical environment at work also has a major influence on employee wellbeing and this include noise level, ergonomic, toxic substances, air quality, workplace design, workplace violence, work pace, physical demands and safety guidelines. There is a need to support health practices that aids healthy behaviors and coping skills;including healthy weight, healthy eating, physical activity, hygiene, stress management, tobacco, alcohol and drug.

7 Benefits of a healthy workplace: Reduced Absenteeism Reduced benefit cost Reduced staff turnover Reduced insurance costs Increased productivity Increased organizational effectiveness Happier and healthier staff Higher employee morale and job satisfaction

8 Strategy for Healthy work force. The only proven strategy to ensure employee wellness is to develop a comprehensive workplace wellness program.

9 Employee Wellness Program Objectives. Establish the significance of the wellness program Educate management on the benefits of productivity and the costs of its loss due to illnesses Establish steps necessary to implement and maintain a successful wellness program

10 Employee Wellness Program Objectives. Establish a method of testing the success of the wellness program Assess which wellness programs are best for various work environments

11 Reasons for Wellness Program Increase in stress levels Increase of workplace diversity Expanding work hours High health care costs Illness prevention

12 Reasons for Wellness Program The need for a healthier lifestyle Disease and obesity - Poor diet and physical inactivity are the second leading cause of death behind smoking

13 Primary Risk areas Smoking Lack of exercise Unhealthy eating habits Overweight/obesity Alcohol and substance abuse Stress

14 How to establish a Wellness program 1) Organize a planning committee wellness champion peers within your department Human Resources management anyone else in your organization that supports a wellness program

15 How to establish a Wellness program 2) Utilize a wellness survey: Assess common issues such as stress, obesity and smoking, for example. An assessment survey is often available at no extra cost from your insurance company, or from an outside vendor at low cost

16 How to establish a Wellness program 3)Develop goals, expectations, objectives and incentives based on the wellness needs from your survey 4)Obtain outside help contact organizations about sponsorships programs and national corporate wellness plans contact gyms corporate membership rates, cash, time off or premium discounts network with other businesses that have established wellness programs

17 How to establish a Wellness program 5) Develop a wellness proposal and budget 6) Market stats from the wellness survey goals, mission statement, objectives and incentives outside vendors/businesses discounts handout information weekly or monthly to keep employees updated set dates for health assessments regularly stay in contact with outside vendors, sponsors, etc.

18 Components of Workplace Wellness program CHAP Cardiovascular health awareness program Obesity management Prevention and management of Diabetes Drug and Alcohol Misuse program Malaria control and chemoprophylaxis program TB awareness and control Program Stress management Screening for malignancies Exercise prescription Injury Prevention and Ergonomics

19 Components of Workplace Wellness program(cont d) Work-life balance / Mental Health STI and HIV/AIDS management and support Nutrition program/health eating Allergies and skin disorder management Healthy vision/hearing program.

20 Key Elements for Success 1. Management support 2. Program should be voluntary 3. Continuous awareness to communicate its benefits and opportunities to ensure participation 4. Ensure involvement and collaboration from all levels support from stake holders, unions e.t.c 5. Requires a long term commitment change is difficult to sell. 6. Ensure initiatives are employee-driven

21 Key Elements for Success(Cont d) 7.Customize the program to meet the needs, interests, and concerns of employees 8.Program should be open to all employees regardless of current level of physical health and wellness 9. Adapt to special features of the workplace each workplace has a unique environment and employee culture. 10. Strategies need to be Comprehensive Creates employee awareness, build employee skills, and create a supportive work environment and policies. 11.Provide incentives and Recognition to support involvement. 12. Include continuous Monitoring and Evaluation

22 Workplace Health Culture The big question : Are we committed to develop, encourage and execute an employee wellness program for our workers to achieve desired health goals???

23 Thank You!!!

24 Q & A!!!