Worksite Wellness
Creating Work Environments
that Encourage Health
Julie Jackman
Working Toward Wellness Program
Mecklenburg County Health Department
What is Worksite Wellness?
From the boardroom to the breakroom, supporting healthy behaviors
through worksite policy and
environmental change.
Access to healthy nutrition and
opportunities to be active at work.
Removing barriers to healthy living in
order to create a Culture of
Wellness.
Steps to Worksite Wellness
Step 1: Where to begin.
Gather Data
Step 2: What you can do.
Program Development
Step 3: What have others done.
Best Practice or Success Stories
Step 4: Find valuable resources.
Resources to Help
Evaluate the worksite.
Worksite Assessment Tool
Worksite
Self-Assessment
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?
(Morning stretching routines, onsite fitness center, onsite fitness classes,
posted walking/running/biking groups)
Yes  No 
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 
www.fitcitychallenge.org
page 1
What do employees WANT?
Employee
Interest
Survey
Employee Interest Survey
Fit City Worksite Wellness Program
EMPLOYEE INTEREST SURVEY
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.
2. I would like to have healthy snacks available at work.
3. I would like to learn about healthier food choices and portions to help
manage my weight.
4. I would like ideas on how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into
my diet.
5. I would be interested in tasting different healthy foods.
6. I would be interested in growing fresh produce at work.
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
Exercise/Fitness
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
I would like to increase my activity level.
I would like to join a company sports team.
I would like to join a walking/running group.
I would use the stairs at work if they were inviting and accessible.
I would like to have the option to hold a “walking meeting”
I would like information on alternative commuting options.
I would like to see more paths and walkways around the facility.
Tobacco Use
14. I would like to work in a tobacco free environment.
15. I would like to get information about quitting tobacco use.
16. I would be interested in joining a group at work to quit tobacco use.
Wellness Activities/Groups (Physical Activity or Healthy Eating Education)
17.
18.
19.
20.
I would like to participate in Wellness Activities before work.
I would like to participate in Wellness Activities during lunch break.
I would like to participate in Wellness Activities after work.
I would like information on activities I can do in 10-15 minutes to improve
my health.
21. I would like information on activities I can do in 30-60 minutes to improve
my health.
22. I would like to participate in a Worksite Wellness Committee.
Please provide name and contact information if interested (optional)
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Any other comments or suggestions regarding wellness:
Please return this survey to:___________________________
By this date:___________________________
What do employees NEED?
Health Risk
Appraisals or
Assessments
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
2. Height (without shoes, whole numbers please)
3. Weight (without shoes)
4. What is your body build?
a) Small -thin, narrow build
e) Poor
____ Feet ___ Inches
________ Pounds
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).
A
B
C
D
E
F
Cancer, within the past 7 years
Heart disease, heart surgery or heart attack
Diabetes or high blood sugar
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Stroke or partially blocked blood flow to head or legs
Yes
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
No Not Sure
N
NS
N
NS
N
NS
N
NS
N
NS
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?
B Any other type of health care professional (chiropractor, therapist, etc.)?
___________ Visits
___________ 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)?
B Home or folk remedies / medicine?
C Faith or spiritual healing?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
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.
Best Practice or Success Stories
Step 4: Find valuable resources.
Resources to Help
Starting Your Program
Get management support
Gather your team or coalition
Utilize wellness advocates
Brand your program: Name, Logo,
Tag line
 Create a Wellness Plan
 Plan a launch event to kick off the
program




Provide Opportunities for Physical
Activity: Environmental Changes












Onsite Fitness Classes
Fitness Center or Corner
Company Sports Teams
Connect to Parks & Greenways
Bike/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
Onsite Fitness
Fitness Center
Treadmill
Workstation
Fitness Corner
Stairwell Makeovers
Promote Alternative
Commuting!
Educate employees of all the different
commuting options, will help increase
their physical activity, reduce traffic and
improve air quality.
Support Alternative
Commuting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Install Appropriate Bike Racks
Provide Shower Area
Adequate Employee Lockers
Offer Incentives for Commuting
Hold a Walking Meeting
Most meetings just require a melding of
minds, share ideas while you walk!
3 Minute Desk Stretches
Employee Stretch Break
Policies to Encourage Being
Active at Work






Policy to allow “Walking Meetings”.
Flexible work schedule for physical
activity.
30 minutes of activity “on the clock”
Guaranteed Ride Home Program for
employees that use alternative
transportation
Active volunteerism (Habitat House, Big Sweep)
Charity Walk/Run
Provide Access to Healthy Food:
Environmental Support







Nutritious Vending Options
Healthy Cafeteria Options
Price Adjustments for Healthy Foods
Company Farmers Markets
Onsite Gardening
Community Supported Agriculture
Healthy Snack & Fruit Basket Program
Healthy Vending is possible
Contract with a company willing to
provide healthy options.
Create pricing structure that
encourages healthy purchasing.
Advertise healthy options to
employees.
Company Farmers Market
Onsite Farmers Market
Many companies have invited local farmers to sell their
produce to employees
CSA, more than a worksite
farmer’s market
What is CSA?
 Community-Supported Agriculture allows you to
support sustainable local food systems by
purchasing food from local farms. Know Your
Farms delivers boxes of produce to your
worksite, directly from the farm.
Healthy Snack Program
Fruit Basket Program
Many companies are providing access to fruit at work.
Policies that support healthy
nutrition







Healthy Options at Company Events
Company Potluck Nutrition Policy
Healthy Options in Cafeteria Policy
Healthy Vending/Snack Options Policy
No Food Dumping Policy for Employees
Healthy Donation/Gift Policy for Vendors
Breastfeeding Supportive Worksite
Provide Education & 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 safety meetings
 Fitness & nutrition information center
 Screen saver health messages






Environment that supports
healthy lifestyles
 Scales, Blood Pressure Self-Check and
Body Fat Machines
 Rest and Relaxation Room
 Walking Paths and Maps
 Outdoor Conference Area
 Tobacco-Free Campus
Provide incentives to change
behavior
Money is the most effective incentive.
In the form of discounts toward insurance cost or
gift cards.
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 success story on the Wellness Board
Benefit Structure to Support
Health
Offer coverage for tobacco
cessation medications and classes.
 Low cost or free prescriptions for
preventative medications.
 Health coaching for managing
disease.
 Employee Assistance Program

Smoke Free Campus!

By taking steps toward having a
smoke free campus employers can
reduce onsite pollution and improve
employee health and productivity.

Set employees up for success by
offering smoking cessation
opportunities before going smoke
free.
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.
Best Practice or Success Stories
Step 4: Find Valuable Resources.
Resources to Help
Success Story
Fruit and Veggie Snacks
Fruit and Veggies for Free during the workday.
Success Story
Healthier Vending Machine
This 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.
Success Story
Healthy Snack Program
They implemented a policy to allow only healthy
snacks to be provided to employees.
Success Story
Afternoon Stretching Program
This small business stops for 5 minutes every
afternoon to take a stretch break. Employees report
feeling more relaxed and focused after stretching.
Success Story
Fitness Corner
This small laboratory testing facility provided free
weights and mats in a corner of a small office to
allow employees to exercise and stretch during
breaks.
Success Story
Created a beautiful outdoor space out of a
retention pond. Employees now use the space as
a destination on a walk, a place to read through
paperwork or to eat lunch.
Success Story
Wellness Board of the Month
Posted a Wellness Board in English, Spanish and
Vietnamese! Translated through Google.
Success Story
Wellness Newsletter
Art department at this progressive architectural firm
created their own wellness newsletter.
Success Story
Employees rarely used stairs to get around in this
four story building, even though the elevator
was notoriously slow. They posted “Take the
Stairs” signs at the elevators and saw a
increased use of stairwells.
Success Story
Container Gardening
This small medical facility used a side employee
entrance area as a container garden.
April
June
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
Worksite Wellness Resources
Working Toward Wellness
CharMeck.org/WorkingTowardWellness
Centers for Disease Control
CDC.gov/LeanWorks
Eat Smart Move More
EatSmartMoveMoreNC.com
American Heart Association
Start! In the Workplace
AmericanHeart.org
Wellness Council of America (Welcoa)
Welcoa.com (requires membership for some
resources)
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
Thank you!
Julie Jackman
Mecklenburg County Health Department
Working Toward Wellness Program Coordinator
704-432-4526
julie.jackman@carolinashealthcare.org