Julie Jackman Fit City Worksite Wellness Program Mecklenburg County Health Department

Julie JackmanFit City Worksite Wellness ProgramMecklenburg County Health Department

Worksite Wellness

Working With Small Businesses to Create a Healthier Workplace

What Works in Worksite Wellness

Step 1: Where to begin. Gather Data

Step 2: What you can do. Program Development

Step 3: What have others done. Success Stories

Step 4: Find Valuable Resources. Resources to Help

Step 1: Gather Data

What do your employees WANT?

Employee Interest Survey

Employee Interest Survey Fit City Worksite Wellness Program

1: Disagree

Completely

2: Somewhat Disagree

3: No Opinion

4: Somewhat

Agree

5: Agree

Completely Nutrition

1. I would like to learn how to choose healthier food options. 1 2 3 4 5 2. I would like to have healthy snacks available at work. 1 2 3 4 5 3. I would like to learn about healthier food choices and portions to help

manage my weight. 1 2 3 4 5

4. I would like ideas on how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet.

1 2 3 4 5

5. I would be interested in tasting different healthy foods. 1 2 3 4 5 6. I would be interested in growing fresh produce at work. 1 2 3 4 5 Exercise/Fitness

7. I would like to increase my activity level. 1 2 3 4 5 8. I would like to join a company sports team. 1 2 3 4 5 9. I would like to join a walking/running group. 1 2 3 4 5 10. I would use the stairs at work if they were inviting and accessible. 1 2 3 4 5 11. I would like to have the option to hold a “walking meeting” 1 2 3 4 5 12. I would like information on alternative commuting options. 1 2 3 4 5 13. I would like to see more paths and walkways around the facility. 1 2 3 4 5 Tobacco Use

14. I would like to work in a tobacco free environment. 1 2 3 4 5 15. I would like to get information about quitting tobacco use. 1 2 3 4 5 16. I would be interested in joining a group at work to quit tobacco use. 1 2 3 4 5 Wellness Activities/Groups (Physical Activity or Healthy Eating Education)

17. I would like to participate in Wellness Activities before work. 1 2 3 4 5 18. I would like to participate in Wellness Activities during lunch break. 1 2 3 4 5 19. I would like to participate in Wellness Activities after work. 1 2 3 4 5 20. I would like information on activities I can do in 10-15 minutes to improve

my health. 1 2 3 4 5

21. I would like information on activities I can do in 30-60 minutes to improve my health.

1 2 3 4 5

22. I would like to participate in a Worksite Wellness Committee. Please provide name and contact information if interested (optional)

1 2 3 4 5

Any other comments or suggestions regarding wellness:

Please return this survey to:___________________________ By this date:___________________________

Step 1: Gather Data

What do your employees NEED?

Health Risk Appraisals

HEALTH RISK APPRAISAL SURVEY

SECTION 1: Medical Information (Please circle your response). 1. Would you say that in general your health is: a) Excellent b) Very Good c) Good d) Fair e) Poor 2. Height (without shoes, whole numbers please) ____ Feet ___ Inches 3. Weight (without shoes) ________ Pounds 4. What is your body build? a) Small -thin, narrow build b) Medium -most people c) Large -stocky, muscular build 5. Has a doctor told you that you now have one of the health problems listed below? (For each problem, please circle Yes, No, or Not Sure). Yes No Not Sure

A Cancer, within the past 7 years Y N NS B Heart disease, heart surgery or heart attack Y N NS

C Diabetes or high blood sugar Y N NS D High blood pressure Y N NS

E High cholesterol Y N NS F Stroke or partially blocked blood flow to head or legs Y N NS 6. Have any of your parents, brothers, or sisters ever had any of the health problems listed below? (For each problem, please circle Yes, No, or Not Sure). Yes No Not Sure

A High blood pressure Y N NS B Colon/bowel cancer Y N NS

C Breast cancer Y N NS D Diabetes or high blood sugar Y N NS

E Heart attack Y N NS 7. During the past 12 months, how many visits have you made to a: A Hospital, doctor's office or emergency room? ___________ Visits B Any other type of health care professional (chiropractor, therapist, etc.)? ___________ Visits 8. If you know your total cholesterol value, please write it in the space provided: __ __ __ Total cholesterol value (183, 214, etc.) 9. Do you take medicine prescribed by a doctor for high blood pressure? Yes No 10. In the past five years, have you had a skin test for tuberculosis (TB)? Yes No 11. Do you use any of the forms of medicine listed below?

A Holistic (naturopathy, homeopathy)? Yes No B Home or folk remedies / medicine? Yes No

C Faith or spiritual healing? Yes No

Step 1: Gather Data

Evaluate your worksite. Worksite Self-Assessment.

Worksite Assessment Tool

www.fitcitychallenge.org page 1

Policy

14. Do you have any written policies regarding healthy vending options? Yes No

Example: You have a written policy that states at least 20% (approx. 8) of the items available in the vending machine are considered healthy by a recognized food labeling program.

15. Do you have any written policies regarding food served at meetings/corporate events/activities? Yes No Example: You have a written policy that states which specific items or healthy restaurants are approved for company events.

16. Do you have any written policies regarding physical activity? Yes No Example: You have a written policy that states employees are allowed a 15 minute physical activity break during work hours.

17. Do you have any written or unwritten policies that might hinder healthy eating or physical activity? Example: You provide donuts every Friday in the break rooms, cake on birthdays, allow employees to bring in unhealthy food to share, employees are not encouraged to take 15 minute breaks, most employees work through lunch hour. Yes No Please list: _____________________________________________________

Education/Promotion

Nutrition: 18. Do you offer educational programs regarding nutrition? Yes No

(Examples: Offer classes on how to shop and prepare healthy snacks, onsite weight management classes, healthy heart classes)

19. Are healthy options available at staff meetings, company sponsored events,

activities/celebrations? Yes No 20. Is there easy access to unhealthy food options? Yes No

(vending machines, candy on desks of other employees, break rooms, cafeteria)

Physical Activity: 21. Does your company encourage employees to participate in company sports teams?

Yes No 22. Does your company offer any onsite exercise programs? Yes No (Morning stretching routines, onsite fitness center, onsite fitness classes, posted walking/running/biking groups) 23. Does your company encourage employees to use the stairs? Yes No 24. Does your company allow employees to leave their desks to walk during breaks and

lunch time? Yes No 25. Does your insurance company offer discounts or reimbursements for fitness club

memberships? Yes No

Step 2: Program Development

• Gather onsite advocates to create a worksite wellness team.

• Find Upper Management Support• Brand your program; give it staying

power!• Create a comprehensive, organized

one year plan for wellness.• Monthly or Quarterly emphasis;

supportive activities and education, environmental supports and evaluation methods.


Planning for Wellness

Step One: Complete Employee Interest Surveys, Focus Groups and Health Risk Assessments Encourage employees to complete an Employee Interest Survey to get an idea of the interests of your workforce. Focus groups are a great way to get employees talking about what is important to them in the workplace. Be sure the facilitator is an independent party that will allow employees to express their true needs. You may want to invest in a Health Risk Assessment to determine the real health risks and needs of your employees, this is also a great way to track return on investment over time.

Step Two: Establish Worksite Wellness Committee Gathering a group of employee advocates along with any managerial support will help disperse the work and make it easier to continue long term. Find out what the interests of your advocates are and allow them to become involved in the programs they are most passionate about. Schedule set meeting times, consistency is important. Volunteers will work best if they know they are being held accountable to what they have committed to accomplish so be sure to take meeting notes and send reminders about what they have said they will do and always ask for a verbal report during your meetings. You may even want to type up meeting minutes to give to executives to keep them informed of your efforts.

Step Three: Create Worksite Wellness “Brand” or Marketing Strategy Choose a logo, tag line and marketing strategy. Visit ww.fitcitychallenge.org for a list of ideas. Any publication the Wellness Committee puts out should be labeled with this logo so employees and administration will recognize the changes you are making.

Step Four: Discuss with Worksite Wellness Committee Short and Long Term Changes Once your committee is established take the time to determine the items you would like to focus on. Determine which items are easy fixes and which ones would require a little planning. Make a list of the items you would like to implement in the first quarter of your wellness program. Assign each item to one of your Worksite Wellness Committee members to implement. Choose an emphasis that will help your wellness program have a cohesive feel. Have fun and make it interesting.

Step Five: Have a Worksite Wellness Launch Event When launching a new program it is important to create excitement for program success. The launch event will let employees know this is something new the company is doing and give them the opportunity to ask questions about how these programs will affect them, let them know where to get more information and put the administrative stamp of approval on the programs. Consider having a launch party with an executive from the company explaining the benefits of worksite wellness and applauding the committee’s efforts. Executive support is vital to the success of a wellness program. Offer incentives for attending the launch, either a healthy lunch or some other prize with the new wellness logo on it.

Step Six: Advertise Supporting Program Start Dates Determine how to best advertise to employees when and where programs will be held. Give employees plenty of advance notice and even offer incentives for participation. Consider choosing 3 different methods of communication to get the best response. Flyers or e-mails alone will not have the same effect as flyers, e-mails and department meeting notices together. The more they hear about a program the more interested they will become.

Step Seven: Evaluate Success of Programs This is one of the most important steps. You need to evaluate program success to provide sustainability. When management hears how many employees are participating in your wellness programs they may be willing to provide extra funds for incentives or staff time to help continue your efforts. Gather data from each event including a head count, satisfaction survey and suggestions for improvement. Leave space to write in testimonials which can have real impact.


Provide Opportunities for Physical Activity

• Onsite Fitness Classes • Fitness Center or Fitness Corner• Company Sports Teams• Connect to Parks & Greenways• Biking/Bus to Work• Take the Stairs Signs• Walking Group Challenge• Map out Walking Paths• Hold a Walking Meeting• Stretching at Work• Treadmill Workstations• Basketball hoop outside


Provide access to

healthy food

• Nutritious Vending Options• Healthy Cafeteria Options• Healthy Snack Program• Fruit Basket Program• Healthy Options at Company Events• Company Farmers Markets


Provide Education and Information

on Healthy Living

• Lunch and learns• Wellness bulletin boards• Wellness Newsletter• Weekly wellness e-mails• Wellness intranet site• Links to fitness and nutrition websites• Flyers and brochures in break-rooms, elevators and restrooms• Wellness Minute during staff or safety meetings• Fitness and nutrition magazines in break rooms• Screen saver health messages


Implement policies that support

healthy nutrition

• Healthy Options at Company Events• Healthy Options in Cafeteria • Healthy Vending/Snack Options• No Food Dumping Policy• Healthy Food Policy for Vendors


Implement policies that support being

active at work

• Policy allowing Walking Meetings• Flexible work schedule to be active• Supporting active volunteerism• Sponsoring employee participation in charity race/walk • Guaranteed Ride Home


Environment that supports healthy lifestyles

• Worksite Wellness Board• Wellness Information Center• Scales, Blood Pressure Self-Check and Body Fat Machines• Rest and Relaxation Room• Walking Paths and Maps• Stairwell Makeover• Outdoor Conference Area• Smoke Free Campus


Provide incentives to change behavior. Money is the most effective incentive. Cash and

Visa/MasterCard Gift Cards are most popular because they can use it where they need it.

Think outside the pocketbook:• Donations from local businesses• Jeans Day• Leave early on a Friday• Trophy, including bragging rights• Recognition and Certificate at company meeting• Featured on the Wellness Board

Step 3: Worksite Success Stories

Many small businesses have discovered ways to create a healthier work environment on a limited budget.

Success Tips:Focus on low hanging fruitEnlist help of onsite advocatesUtilize local resourcesStart small and focus on sustainable

changes


Afternoon Stretching ProgramThis small business stops for 5 minutes every

afternoon to take a stretch break. Employees report feeling more relaxed and focused after stretching.


Fruit Basket ProgramMany companies are providing access to fruit at

work.


Healthier Vending MachineThis small manufacturing company requested

healthier options in vending machines and worked with vending company to raise prices on unhealthy options and lower prices on healthy options.


Healthy Snack ProgramMany companies have started their own Healthy

Snack Program when vending was out of their control.


Onsite Farmers MarketMany companies have invited local farmers to

sell their produce to employees


Walking MeetingThe Mecklenburg County Health Department

allows employees to hold a “walking meeting”.


Fitness CornerThis small laboratory testing facility provided

free weights and mats in a corner of a small office.


Wellness Board of the MonthPosted a Wellness Board.


Wellness NewsletterArt department at this progressive architectural

firm created their own wellness newsletter.


Created a beautiful outdoor space. Employees now use the space as a destination on a walk, a place to read through paperwork or to eat lunch.

Step 4: Resources to Help www.fitcitychallenge.org

Step 4: Resources to Help

10 Step Guide to Starting a Wellness Program

Employee Interest Survey

Health Fair Tips Lunch and Learn

Topics Create a Worksite

Wellness Team

Visit www.fitcitychallenge.orgwww.fitcitychallenge.org for tips and resources to help you Create a Healthy Worksite

Employee Incentive Ideas

ROI Calculator Walking Calculator Fast Food Calculator BMI Calculator Daily Calorie

Requirements

Step 4: Resources to HelpOther Worksite Wellness Resources• Eat Smart Move More NC. Employee Wellness Program resources and information located at www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com. • CDC. Healthier Worksite Initiative and Lean Works Programs. Very detailed information on how to begin and sustain wellness programs. www.cdc.gov. • Welcoa (Wellness Council of America): Annual fee of around $300, Downloadable PowerPoints, Educational webinars, Articles and other resource information. www.welcoa.com.• Check out States of Arkansas, California, Washington, Oregon and New York for impressive government programs.

Step 5: Breathe!

• Don’t get overwhelmed, start small!

• Every program is different, every worksite is unique. There is no perfect program. Do what works for your organization.

• Use the resources and experience of others to save you time and money.

• Every step made toward health is a step well taken! It’s worth the effort!

Thank you!

Julie JackmanMecklenburg County Health DepartmentFit City Worksite Wellness Program [email protected]

www.fitcitychallenge.org

Documents

Julie Jackman Fit City Worksite Wellness Program Mecklenburg County Health Department