Employees spend about 36 percent of their total waking hours at work. Worksite wellness programs provide employees the opportunity to improve their health, reduce their risk of chronic disease, and reduce their healthcare costs. In return, improved employee health can positively impact the worksite through increased employee productivity, attendance, and morale.
How to Create an Environment that Supports Health
- Take a thoughtful, holistic approach to worksite wellness. CDC's Healthier Worksite Initiative can help you get started. State agencies can coordinate with Health Care Authority's Washington Wellness.
- Promote healthy eating in the workplace. View the Healthy Nutrition Guidelines for example nutrition guidelines, model policies, success stories and health promotion materials.
- Increase physical activity among employees with the Washington Wellness Physical Activity.
- Support employees to live tobacco-free. The CDC has information on implementing a tobacco-free campus.
- Accommodate breastfeeding employees by providing reasonable time and space for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk. For tips, check-out the U.S. Department Health and Human Services' business case for breastfeeding.
- Promote the Diabetes Prevention Program. View a brochure on the National Diabetes Prevention Program (PDF).
- Refer your employees that are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a child under 5 to WIC. WIC is a nutrition program for eligible women, infants, and children.
- Address asthma triggers in the workplace.