On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
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1. BENEFITS OF A
HEALTHY WORKPLACE
DESINGED BY
Sunil Kumar
Research Scholar/ Food Production Faculty
Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management,
MAHARSHI DAYANAND UNIVERSITY, ROHTAK
Haryana- 124001 INDIA Ph. No. 09996000499
email: skihm86@yahoo.com , balhara86@gmail.com
linkedin:- in.linkedin.com/in/ihmsunilkumar
facebook: www.facebook.com/ihmsunilkumar
webpage: chefsunilkumar.tripod.com
2. OVERVIEW
What is a healthy workplace?
Comprehensive workplace health
Putting it into practice
3. HEALTHY WORKPLACE DEFINED
A healthy workplace integrates the
following three elements to achieve
optimal health of its people and its
business:
Health and lifestyle practices (availability of resources and
support of employees’ efforts to adopt and maintain healthy
lifestyle practices)
Organizational culture (attitudes, values and beliefs
demonstrated in the workplace on a daily basis that impact
the well-being of employees)
Physical work environment
Source: The definition of a healthy workplace is consistent with
models promoted by Health Canada, the National Quality
Institute,
the Ontario Healthy Workplace Coalition, and the Forum on the
Advancement of Healthy Workplaces
4. WHY IS A HEALTHY WORKPLACE IMPORTANT?
16 million adult Canadians spend half of their
waking hours at work — the environments in
which people live, learn, work and play have
a significant impact on health (Public Health Agency of
Canada)
Healthy employees have higher morale, are
more productive, and report higher levels of
job satisfaction (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Absenteeism costs are in excess of 15 billion
dollars a year in Canada (Buffet Taylor Report 2003)
5. BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES
Improved fitness, health, and lifestyle
Improved work/life balance
Improved morale and engagement
Improved team spirit and job satisfaction
Reduced stress and incidences of injury
Enhanced relationships with co-workers
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada
6. BENEFITS WITHIN THE WORKPLACE
Reduced absenteeism and turnover
Reduced benefits claims
Enhanced recruitment and retention
Enhanced reputation
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada
7. THE EVIDENCE: BENEFITS WITHIN THE
WORKPLACE
Healthier employees:
In the first six months of Toronto’s “Metro Fit” program, municipal employees
saw marked improvements in their health and resilience and reported 3.5
fewer sick days
MDS Nordion employees enjoyed similar health benefits and were sick less
often than in previous years (fewer than 4 days per year compared with the
Canadian average of 7.4 days per year)
Continuity in the workplace:
BC Hydro employees enrolled in the fitness program had a turnover rate of
3.5% compared to the company average of 10.3%
8. THE EVIDENCE: BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES
Increasing physical activity to at least 30
minutes per day at least 5 days per week
lowers the risk of developing coronary
heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes,
high blood pressure, and colon cancer by
30 – 50% (National Association of Physical Activity and Health)
Within 48 hours of stopping smoking,
chances of having a heart attack start to
decrease
within 1 year, risk of suffering a smoking-related heart attack is cut in
half
within 10 years, risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half
Within 15 years, the risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a
person who never smoked (Health Canada)
9. THE EVIDENCE: BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES
(CONT’D)
Workplace stair-climbing interventions:
Climbing two flights of stairs per day can lead
to a 2.7 kg (5.9 lbs) weight loss over one
year
Six flights a day can lead to an 8.2 kg (18
lbs) weight loss over one year
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada
11. COMPREHENSIVE WORKPLACE HEALTH
Effective workplace health programs are
comprehensive in nature and scope:
Planned using relevant data such as a survey or needs assessment
Participation from all levels of the institution
Addresses employee health
Addresses the broader work environment and culture
Evaluated and adapted to meet changing nature of work force and needs of
employees
Source: Conference Board of Canada
12. WE CAN ALL PLAY A ROLE
Leadership commitment
Support by managers and supervisors of
committee members
Inclusive committee — diverse group of
members from all across campus
Departmental workplace champions
Lead by example
Encourage co-workers and colleagues to
participate
13. CURRENT HEALTHY WORKPLACE PRACTICES AT
CU
Employee and Family Assistance Program
Membership to Athletics
Comprehensive benefits plan
Learning and development program
Career development fund for professional growth
On-site Health and Counselling Services
Paid leave during annual Christmas holiday shutdown
Free tuition for employees, their dependents and
spouses
14. CURRENT HEALTHY WORKPLACE PRACTICES AT
CU (CONT’D)
Maternity leave with 95% salary top up and parental leave
Special leave opportunities (medical/dental/legal appointments;
personal or self-funded leave plans; and more)
Recognition initiatives with annual Employee Appreciation Day, and
awards program
Guaranteed housing loan up to $20,000 payable over 20 years
Career opportunities, meaningful work, safe environment, and more
16. PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE…AND, WHAT’S
NEXT?
Commitment from senior management
Establish healthy workplace committee
Understand needs of employees
Create a health plan to address those needs
Implement the plan (education, events,
resources)
Evaluate and refine
We need to provide the means for employees to
make healthy lifestyle choices — and make those
choices easy ones