Introduction to Workplace
Health Promotion
Date
Name
Overview
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Why workplace health?
Benefits of workplace health
Comprehensive workplace health
Influencing change
Support, tools and resources
Why workplace health?
The reality
• Employed Canadians spent about 36.6
hours/week at work in 2012 (Statistics
Canada)
• 1 in 4 Canadians work at least 50
hrs/week
– Decade ago? Only 1 in 10 (CMHA)
Why workplace health?
The reality
• Work-related stress linked to 50%
increase in risk of heart disease (WHO,
2008)
• 58% of Canadians report “overload”
– Attempted balance of work, family, social and
community responsibilities (CMHA)
Why workplace health?
The impact
• National employee absenteeism cost
estimated at over $16 billion annually
(Conference Board of Canada, 2013)
Why workplace health?
Direct costs
• Increased:
– Worker’s compensation
– Disability costs
– Drug costs
Why workplace health?
Indirect costs
• Increased:
– Absenteeism
– Replacement labour
– Equipment damage
Why workplace health?
Opportunity costs
• Decreased:
– Quality of work
– Productivity
– Innovation and creative thinking
Why workplace health?
• Healthy workplaces benefit employers,
organizations, employees, and the
community at large
Benefits of workplace health
For the organization
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•
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A well-managed health and safety program
Positive and caring image
Improved staff morale and productivity
Reduced staff turnover and absenteeism
Reduced health care/insurance costs
Reduced risk of fines and litigation
Benefits of workplace health
For employees
• Safe and healthy work environment
• Enhanced self-esteem and improved health
• Reduced stress / improved morale and sense of
well-being
• Increased job satisfaction
• Increased skills for health protection
Benefits of workplace health
For families and the community
• Transfer of healthy habits from work to home
• Healthy families may be more likely to become
involved in community
• Reduced health care cost
Comprehensive Workplace Health
Workplace Culture
and Supportive
Environment
Healthy
Workplace
Health and Lifestyle
Practices
Occupational Health
and Safety
Comprehensive workplace health
Occupational health and safety
• Reduce:
– Physical and chemical hazards in a workplace
– Work-related injury, illness and disability
Comprehensive workplace health
Health and lifestyle practices
• Address individual behaviour change to
reduce risk of worker illness
• Promote healthy lifestyles
Comprehensive workplace health
Workplace culture & supportive
environments
• Culture refers to people’s “way of life”, or
the way they do things
Comprehensive workplace health
Workplace culture & supportive
environments
• Changing or improving the workplace
culture to influence employee health
• Organizational change
Influencing change
• Healthy workplace change can be
influenced through:
– Awareness building
– Education and skill building
– Environmental support
– Policy development
Influencing change
Awareness building
Example initiatives
Occupational health
and safety
Raise awareness of safety equipment
available in the workplace
Individual health
practices
Use office e-mail to raise awareness of
the benefits of eating a balanced diet
Workplace culture
and supportive
environments
Raise awareness of the importance of
talking with management about
concerns
Influencing change
Education and Skill Building
Example initiatives
Occupational Health
and Safety
Offer in-services on how to properly use new
equipment
Individual Health
Practices
Host staff lunch & learn session on how to read
nutrition labels
Workplace Culture
and Supportive
Environments
Provide information and tips on effective
communication
Influencing change
Environmental Support
Example initiatives
Occupational
Health and Safety
Make sure that employees have access to proper
and necessary safety equipment
Individual Health
Practices
Provide healthy food choices in cafeteria and/or
vending machines
Workplace Culture
and Supportive
Environments
Provide an employee and family assistance
program (EFAP)
Influencing change
Policy Development
Example initiatives
Occupational Health
and Safety
Develop a policy for routine safety and
equipment inspections
Individual Health
Practices
Develop a policy to include healthy food options
during all meetings and/or events
Workplace Culture
and Supportive
Environments
Develop a flex-time policy to accommodate
employee family responsibilities
Influencing change
• Change can be influenced by:
– Employers and management
– Employees
Influence change
Management/employers
• Encourage employee involvement in decision
making
• Listen to employees’ concerns
• Demonstrate consistent and fair leadership style
• Improve communication skills
• Measure employee satisfaction regularly
Influence change
Employees
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Join or create a workplace wellness committee
Take frequent stretch breaks
Address health concerns with management
Start a break-time walking club
Support, tools and resources
• www.nwhu.on.ca
• Northwestern Health Unit (1-800 #) – or
local office
References
• Absent Workers Cost the Canadian Economy Billions. Conference
Board of Canada. 2013. Retrieved on January 28, 2014 from:
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/press/newsrelease/13-0923/absent_workers_cost_the_canadian_economy_billions.aspx
• Canadian Mental Health Association (2013)
• CSDH (2008).Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through
action on the social determinants of health. Final Report of the
Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Geneva, World
Health Organization
References
• The Health Communication Unit. Comprehensive Workplace Health
Promotion Info Packs and Presentation. 2004.
• Workplace Health Promotion. World Health Organization. Retrieved
on January 30, 2014 from:
http://www.who.int/occupational_health/topics/workplace/en/
• Workplace. Mental Health Commission of Canada. Retrieved on
January 28, 2014 from:
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/issues/workplace?ro
utetoken=377732ab8e2a93c3244ed1d591781795&terminitial=30