Region 10 and Alaska Native T/TA Health Conference Call on Staff Wellness
Presentation Slide Text
Embracing Staff Wellness in 2008
Small Steps to Lasting ChangeT/TA Health Conference Call Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:00 am 12:00 pm PST
Allison Hertel, MPA, CHES T/TA Health Specialist
Agenda
- Introduction
- Defining health and wellness
- Why develop a worksite health promotion program?
- How do we implement a wellness program? Choosing your wellness priorities
- Wellness break
- Developing a worksite wellness program that meets everyone's needs
- Resources
Healthy People 2010 Goal
What is Health Promotion?
- Optimal health is defined as a balance of physical, emotional, social, spiritual and emotional health.
- Lifestyle change can be facilitated through a combination of efforts to
- Enhance awareness
- Change behavior
- Create environments that support good health practices
- Of these, supportive environments will probably have the greatest impact in producing lasting change.
What is Health Education?
… a process that assists individuals, small groups and large populations to identify health needs and priorities, obtain information and resources needed to meet those needs, and mobilize action aimed at achieving desired change.
It focuses on creating an environment in which there are strong individual and structural supports for informed and voluntary decision-making about personal health and community well being.
(American Journal of Health Promotion, 1989, 3, 3, 5)
The Six Dimensions of Wellness
- Social
- Occupational/ Environmental
- Spiritual
- Physical
- Intellectual
- Emotional
6 key reasons for developing a worksite health promotion program
- Health care costs. It is estimated that in 2003, the U.S. will spend $1.66 trillion dollars on health care, much of which can be linked to health habits.
- Most illnesses can be avoided. It has been suggested that preventable illnesses make up approximately 70% of all illness related costs.
- The work week is expanding, and traditional work boundaries are disappearing, creating additional health risks to employees.
- The technology revolution is on, creating health concerns of its own including repetitive stress injuring, low back problems, and sedentary lifestyles.
- Employee stress levels are increasing. According to a recent national poll, 78% of Americans describe their jobs as stressful.
- Increasing diversity in the workforce means businesses need to address a variety of health concerns.
Source: Wellness Councils of America, http://www.welcoa.org
Health & Productivity FACTS
- Productivity losses related to personal and family health problems cost U.S. employers $1,685 per employee per year, or $225.8 billion annually.
- A meta-review of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs shows:
- Average 28% reduction in sick leave absenteeism
- Average 26% reduction in health costs
- Average 30% reduction in workers' compensation and disability management claims costs
- Average $5.93 to $1 savings-to-cost ratio
Downloaded on 01/08/08 from: http://www.prevent.org/content/view/29/40/
"The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck!"
Author UnknownHow do we implement a wellness program?
- Gather information
- Choose priorities
- Develop and set clear goals and objectives
- Be realistic
- Evaluate and revise
Choosing Priorities
- Disease and Illness Prevention
- Health Promotion Activities
- Health Education
- Organizational Norms Related to Healthy Behaviors
- Environmental Health
Disease and Illness Prevention
- Encourage staff to get preventive and primary health care
- Offer health screenings (e.g. diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI)
- Offer vaccinations (e.g. Hepatitis B, flu shots)
- Provide information on age appropriate screenings and tests
- Provide flex time for staff to get medical and dental exams
Health Promotion Activities
- Implement a 10,000 steps a day program
- Develop staff bulletin boards, have an article in a newsletter, or post flyers throughout program environment
- Provide discounts to health clubs, prenatal classes, smoking cessation classes, or other health related events to staff
- Provide support to staff to prevent burnout
- Host a family health care fair incorporate family health topics
Health Education
- Staff training on employee health issues related to disease and illness prevention
- Classes on child safety, parenting, labor and delivery, child rearing for staff who are parents
- Availability of health and nutrition information
- Serving size displays during trainings and meetings
- Staff training on employee benefit packages
Organizational Norms Related to Healthy Behaviors
- Employee benefits package
- Incentives for staff to participate in wellness programs
- Staff meetings and trainings
- Healthy food and beverage options
- Stretch/Movement breaks
- Fitness and nutrition classes
- Flexible work environment
Promoting Well-Being and Preventing Burnout
School-based programs should include the following key elements:
- Inducting newcomers into the school culture in a welcoming and socially supportive way.
- Opening classroom doors and creating appropriate temas of staff and students who support, nurture, and learn from each other every day.
- Personalized staff development and support, including:
- In-service programs that account for interests, strengths, weaknesses, and limitations;
- Approaches that overcome avoidance motivation;
- Structure that provides personalized support and guidance; and /li>
- Instruction designed to enhance and expand intrinsic motivation for learning and problem solving.
- Restructuring school governance to enable shared decision-making.
Excerpted from Addressing Barriers to Learning, Vol (7), Num 2, Spring 2002, Center for Mental Health in Schools.
Environmental Health
- Workstation ergonomics
- Safety and accident prevention
- Environmental risks
- Proper lifting technique demonstrations
- Going "green"
- Policies tobacco free, staff health
Wellness Break
- Sit up straight in your chair with both feet flat on the floor. Look straight ahead. Slowly reach around behind yourself with your right hand and grasp the top right corner of your chair with your right hand. (You can bend your elbow.) Complete the stretch by moving your left hand as close as possible to your right hand. Stretch as far as you can and hold it for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Interlock your fingers, turn your palms outward and extend your arms away from your body as far as you can. Keeping your back straight and arms parallel to the table or the desk, bow your head slightly. Count to five and lift it back up slowly.
Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/downloads/leadersguide.pdf
How do you develop a program that meets the needs of all of your employees?
Developing a Worksite Wellness Program that Meets Everyone's Needs
- How do you develop a program that meets the needs of all of your employees?
- What do we do when we have some staff that are very excited and some that are disinterested in changing behaviors and participating in activities?
- What does a worksite wellness program look like for people in each of the "stages" of change?
Stages of Change
- Pre-contemplation Consciousness raising
- Contemplation Emotional Arousal
- Preparation Commitment
- Action Contracts & Rewards
- Maintenance Countering
- Screen shots from websites
10 things you can do TODAY relating to worksite wellness
- Remove the candy dish from your desk or office.
- Add a staff bulletin board that encourages physical activity, healthy nutrition, or another health promotion topic.
- Set up a meeting with your Director to discuss worksite wellness.
- Research one website that is mentioned today.
- Add a walking break to your calendar and take it every day.
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- Put signs around office encouraging people to get up and move!
- Split your takeout lunch with a friend.
- Add a movement activity to your staff or management meeting.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Take a break from your computer close your eyes, move your legs, and stretch your arms!
Online Resources and Ideas
- Disease and Illness Prevention
- Health Promotion Activities
- Health Education
- Organizational Norms Related to Healthy Behaviors
- Environmental Health
Healthfinder.gov Your Guide to Reliable Health Information
Features:
- Health news
- Monthly health observances and resources
- Online checkups
MyPyramid Tracker
Features:
- MyPyramid plan & tracker
- Pregnancy & breastfeeding
- Steps to a healthier weight
- Sections for kids & professionals
America on the Move: Steps to a Healthier Way of Life
http://www.americaonthemove.org
Features:
- Join as a team or as an individual
- Receive daily email tips
- "Walk" the Oregon or Iditarod interactive trail
- Healthy eating ideas
- Challenge buddies and community support
Small Step Adult and Teen Improving the health and well-being of America
Features:
- Portion control and sizes
- Activity tracker
- Interactive diet planning
- Goal setting
- Get the Facts Eating, activity and others
- Newsletters and daily small step tips
Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina
http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/programs_tools/worksites/index.html
Features:
- Worksites Eating Smart and Moving More
- HealthSmart Worksite Wellness Toolkit
- Healthy Meeting Guide
- Move More StairWELL Initiative
- Bring Fresh Produce to Your Setting
- Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less
- Snacks and Drinks Guides
Eat Smart and Move More Posters…
Description: Several examples of posters are shown on this slide, such as 12 Easy Ways to Enjoy Activity at Work, Tasty Tips for Eating Smart at Work, Brown Bag Day - the Healthy Way, Eating Smart on the Run: Take It With You…Create Your Own Snack Bag, Ideas for Physical Activity Breaks in Meetings.
Earth 911: The Nation's Premier Environmental Resource
Features:
- Recycling
- Electronics
- Air Quality
- State Specific Links
- Household Items
- Going Green at Home
- Newsletters
- Events & Activities
Division of Occupational Health and Safety: Ergonomics at Work Program
http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/ergonomics_home.htm
Features:
- Computers
- Ergonomic Chairs
- Stretches & Exercises
- A Healthy Back
- Online Resources
Questions & Comments
50% of worksites employing 50 or more persons will provide programs to prevent or reduce employee stress.
"Health promotion is the science and art of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health."
(American Journal of Health Promotion, 1989, 3, 3, 5)
Posted on 2/29/2008.