Wellness in the workplace v1.0 example programme

WORKPLACE
WELLNESS
UNDERSTANDINGTHE SPECIFIC
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND
WORKINGTOWARD A SET OF
EFFECTIVE MEASURESTO
IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN
WELLNESS INTHEWORKPLACE.

CONTENTS
1
Rationale
2
Benefits of
initiatives
that
promote
wellness in
the
workplace
3
Make your
program
‘season
specific’
4
Take away
advice: 15
ways to stay
on top of
your health
(slides 6-11)
5
Importance
of
leadership
support
when
promoting
wellness in
the
workplace
6
Barriers to
success:
Results of
team
engagement
7
Example of
‘You said we
did’ Action
Plan
Template
8
Developing
a Case-
Specific
Program
9
Location:
Specific
Environment
(slides 16-19)
10
Location:
Specific
Program –
Next Steps
(Slides 20-
21)

RATIONALE
Workplace wellness is any workplace health promotion activity or organisational
policy designed to support healthy behaviour in the workplace and to improve
health outcomes. Known as 'corporate wellbeing' outside the US, workplace
wellness often comprises activities such as health education, medical screenings,
weight management programs, on-site fitness programs or facilities.These
programs can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary health programs,
depending on the goal of the specific program. Primary prevention programs
usually target a fairly healthy employee population,and encourage them to more
frequently engage in health behaviours that will encourage ongoing good health.
Example of primary prevention programs include stress management, and
exercise and healthy eating promotion. Secondary prevention programs are
targeted at reducing behaviour that is considered a risk factor for poor health.
Examples of such programs include smoking cessation programs and screenings
for high blood pressure or other cardiovascular disease related risk factors.
Tertiary health programs address existing health problems, and aim to help
control, reduce or at the very least to not exacerbate symptoms through an
adverse working environment.
Did you know? EACHWINTER PERIOD, In the USA, sickness that prevents
people being at work costs employers more than $20 billion in paid sick days and
more than 200,000 sufferers are sent to hospital.This impacts on health services
as well as employers.The USA spends around 15.5% of GDP on healthcare.

BENEFITS OF INITIATIVESTHAT PROMOTES
WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE
PERSONAL
• Feeling well
• Ability to carry out the
role
• Enjoyment of the working
environment
• Role enjoyment / focus on
doing well
• Good attendance record
• Not letting colleagues
down
• Being fit and well at home
COLLEAGUES
• A happier team
• Less worry about a valued
work colleague
• Less pressure to
accommodate additional
work load
• Fair workplace
BUSINESS
• Excellent reputation as a
good place to work
• Ability to recruit the best
• High staff retention (lower
recruitment costs)
• Low absenteeism
• Increased productivity
• Increased quality
THE ECONOMY
• Helping to save $20 billion
lost in paid sick days
• Helping to relieve
pressures on healthcare
services

MAKEYOUR PROGRAM ‘SEASON SPECIFIC’: WINTER
Immunity is the season's magic word.When
temperatures drop and windows and doors stay
shut, viruses can thrive indoors; if your immune
system isn't up to the task, you're likely to catch
the latest bug to hit town.This means less energy,
the possibility of health complications, and just
plain old feeling awful.That's why it's essential to
ward off the very real threat of colds, flu, and
other scary winter germs lurking on every
doorknob, in every public bathroom, and on
every grab-rail of your morning train to work.
Each winter, these infections put millions of
people out of commission, cost employers more
than $20 billion in paid sick days, and send more
than 200,000 sufferers to the hospital. So how do
you protect yourself? In this presentation is a list
of exactly what you need… and what you should
avoid… to stay healthy during the cold and flu
season. These ideas are safe, they've proven their
worth in clinical studies, and trusted experts
recommend them.

TAKE AWAY ADVICE:15WAYSTO STAY ON TOP OF
YOUR HEALTH…
1. FLU
VACCINATION
An influenza vaccination can reduce the
risk of flu illness by 50 to 60% in the
general population and can decrease the
severity and side effects if you get sick. So
roll up your sleeve… The US government
state that there is plenty of vaccinations to
go around
The quadrivalent vaccine (which includes
the nasal spray version approved for ages 2
to 49) inoculates against four different
viruses and may offer better protection
than the trivalent shot, which protects
against three viruses. The best time to get
inoculated is in October or November, a
few weeks before flu season begins to peak
(Ref: Neil Schachter, MD, a professor of
pulmonary medicine at Mount Sinai Medical
Centre and author of The Good Doctor's
Guide to Colds & Flu).
2. STOCK UP
ON PENS
True! Cold and flu germs are easily passed
through hand-to-hand contact, says
Schachter, so any way you can avoid
touching public objects—such as the
communal pen at the bank… will cut your
risk. Having your own supply of dime-a-
dozen plastic ballpoints might just keep you
from picking up a virus. Consider other
everyday objects that you will touch after
everyone else has!
• "When you get up in the morning, don't leave the
house without a pen in your pocket or your purse,"
Schachter suggests. "Take it wherever you go… and
use your own instead of the doctor's, the delivery
guy's, or the restaurant waiter’s.”
3. BUY HAND
SANITISER
When researchers from Children's
Hospital in Boston studied 292 families for
5 months, they found that those who
carried hand sanitiser with them had 59%
fewer cases of stomach bugs than
nonusers. That's because, when used
correctly… squirt out enough gel so your
hands still feel damp after rubbing together
for 10 to 15 second… these products
nearly eliminate germs.
A bottle stashed in your purse (and in your
husband's briefcase and the kids' book
bags) is an excellent alternative to washing
if you've just shaken a bunch of hands, used
the loo (John!), held a handrail etc.. and
can't get to a sink.

YOUR HEALTH…
4. JOIN A CLUB
You know that friendships counteract the harmful effects of
stress hormones, but new research says the more friends you
have, the healthier you'll be. Carnegie Mellon doctors gave 83
college freshmen an influenza vaccine and found that those with
larger social networks produced more flu-fighting antibodies
than those who hung out in smaller groups. Students who
reported feeling lonely produced fewer antibodies, as well. As an
example, start a book group or cultivate group-friendly hobbies.
5. EXPRESSYOURSELF
A constructive argument with your spouse can actually increase
immunity, say UCLA researchers. They asked 41 happy couples
to discuss a problem in their marriage for 15 minutes. The
researchers detected surges in blood pressure, heart rate, and
immune-related white blood cells, all of which were similar to
the benefits seen with moderate exercise. But you still have to
play nice: Couples who frequently use sarcasm, insults, and put-
downs have fewer virus-fighting natural killer cells, have higher
levels of stress hormones, and take up to 40% longer to recover
from injuries than those who manage to stay positive and
affectionate during their quarrels.
The worst thing you can do is to keep what's bothering you
bottled up: People with a type D personality… those who keep
their opinions and emotions hidden… have killer T cells that are
less active than those found in more expressive peers.

YOUR HEALTH…
6. SET GOALS
Challenging situations can work to your advantage: "When we're
facing adversity, we become hyperalert and our bodies guard
themselves against enemies… whether that's a predator or a
virus," says Monika Fleshner, PhD, an associate professor of
neuroimmunophysiology at the University of Colorado at
Boulder.
So, even though unresolved stress can make you sick by
suppressing immunity, raising blood pressure, and increasing
your risk of heart disease, the ups and downs of everyday life,
such as working toward a deadline or a promotion, will actually
provide a health boost. The best prescription is to set your
sights on a reachable target, says Fleshner. At the beginning of
each week, give yourself at least one challenge at your job that
you'll aim to accomplish by Friday
7. SIGN UP FOR A RUB
DOWN!
Massage therapy has been shown to improve immune function
and energy levels in cancer patients. In a 500-person review
study, massage lowered cortisol levels by up to 53%. Experts
believe this boost can extend even to those who are simply
dealing with the daily pressures of life. A weekly kneading,
whether it's a professional massage or simply a back rub from
your significant other, can also increase serotonin and dopamine,
mood boosters that may help protect your immunity, as well.

YOUR HEALTH…
8.TAKE A DAILY
MULTIVITAMIN
Look for one with 100% of the recommended daily values of
vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and D and the minerals chromium,
copper, folic acid, selenium, calcium, and zinc. Take your multi
during a meal that contains a bit of fat so you can absorb the
nutrients better; a glass of water will help the pill dissolve.
9.TAKE ASTRAGALUS
This Chinese root… pills are available in health food stores…
has a long track record as an immunity booster. Research
suggests that it stimulates the bone marrow to produce more
disease-fighting white blood cells, which in turn produce
antibodies and interferon, an antiviral protein.
In a Chinese study, 3 to 4 months of astragalus injections raised
lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell) activity by up to 45% in
people who had a virus that can cause meningitis and heart
inflammation. Other studies suggest astragalus's immune-
stimulating compounds are also active when taken orally. To
maintain disease-fighting levels of the herb in your system, use it
for at least 3 months (up to 2 years at a time) for best results.
Take two 500 mg capsules of dried astragalus root, 3 times each
day.

YOUR HEALTH…
10. MOVE MORE
University of South Carolina researchers
discovered that men who got in 3 hours a day of
moderate activity (the equivalent of walking
briskly, climbing stairs, or playing tennis) were 35%
less likely to catch a cold, compared with those
who did only 1 hour. The good news is you may
not have to breathe hard every day: UCLA
researchers have found that tai chi, the Chinese
art of slow movements, meditation, and breathing,
decreases the release of catecholamine, a
neurotransmitter that dampens the immune
system; in one study, 3 sessions a week for 4
months enhanced immune cell function by 45% in
adults with shingles.
11.WASHYOUR
HANDS… A LOT!
Researchers from the Naval Health Research
Centre in San Diego saw a decrease in respiratory
illness of 45% from the previous year among
45,000 recruits who had been instructed to wash
their hands at least 5 times a day (soap dispensers
were installed, and the students were lectured
monthly on the importance of hand washing).
Similar results would be likely in schools, homes,
and workplaces where regular hand washing is
adopted, says William Schaffner, MD, chair of the
preventive medicine department at Vanderbilt
University School of Medicine. "I'm not talking
about just before dinner," he adds. "We have a
rule in my house: Anytime you walk in the door,
you hang your coat and march to the sink to wash
your hands." Such frequency may not be necessary
for all families, but experts agree that simple soap-
and-water hand washing is an easy and effective
way to stay healthy year-round.
12.TURN IN
Getting enough sleep is the most important thing
to do this season, because any other precautions
you take against cold or flu—the right food,
supplements, even vaccinations—won't offer the
same protection if your body's too tired to use
them properly.
University of Chicago researchers found that men
who had slept only 4 hours a night for 1 week
produced only half the amount of flu-fighting
antibodies in their blood (jump-started by a flu
shot), compared with those who slept 7 1/2 to 8
1/2 hours.

YOUR HEALTH
13. STAY ALERT
If a viral outbreak hits your community,
says Schaffner, the best thing you can do is
avoid crowds. "When you read about it in
the paper or see it on the news, that's the
time to rent a movie and watch it at home,
instead of going out to the theatre." To
find out if the flu is headed to your state,
check out the CDC's flu map, updated
weekly.
14.TAKE ZINC
At the first sign of symptoms, zinc may
help prevent or lessen the duration of a
cold; it also helps when used shortly after
possible exposure to the virus (a plane trip
or a visit to a sick friend). Schachter uses it
just before he flies because zinc has
consistently positive study results. Taken
as a lozenge, zinc releases ions that prevent
the common cold virus from maturing and
attaching to airways. (Bonus: Zinc has also
been proven to boost your metabolism.)
Choose zinc gluconate or zinc acetate
without flavoring agents such as citric and
tartaric acids… they appear to stunt its
preventive powers. Take it only once or
twice a day for a week at a time.
15. GET AN RF
If you feel the flu's aches and fatigue coming
on, ask your doctor about an antiviral
medication such as Tamiflu or Relenza.
Both are 60 to 90% effective if they are
taken within 48 hours of exposure but
useless before or after that window. Some
doctors may prescribe the drugs over the
phone, but see yours in person first; it's
important to distinguish the flu from the
common cold to avoid paying for… or
experiencing side effects from…
unnecessary medications.

IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP SUPPORT WHEN
PROMOTING WELLNESS INTHE WORKPLACE
The importance of leadership
in supporting their teams to
provide a wellness-promoting
environment cannot be
understated.
What is a common
misconception however; is that
it costs too much. There are
simple interventions that, if
properly and enthusiastically
approached, can engage your
teams and improve wellness at
the same time.
As a leader in your area, you
know the working environment
well BUT do you know your
environment from your teams’
perspective? Engaging with your
staff and finding out how the
working environment affects
them brings a state of
ownership, collaboration,
enthusiasm and ultimately a
feeling that the boss REALLY
DOES care.
A face-on meeting is the best
way to engage. Questionnaires
are another option but
beware… these can appear
impersonal, too generic and do
not take the teams’ own
locality into account.
Questionnaires can also lead to
duplication when you have to
meet with your teams anyway
to decipher answers in relation
to place where they are
actually employed.

BARRIERS TO SUCCESS: RESULTS OF TEAM
ENGAGEMENT
This slide should be
completed in line with the
results of your team
engagement:
• What is your team saying?
• What is realistic?
• What are the potential barriers
to implementing ideas?
Note your teams
responses and ideas.
Introduce some of your
own ideas and develop
a plan in line with the
points raised (see
example of plan in
slide 16)

EXAMPLE ‘YOU SAIDWE DID’ ACTION
PLANTEMPLATE

DEVELOPING
A LOCATION-
SPECIFIC
PROGRAM
• When providing examples of appropriate interventions that promote
wellness in the workplace, it is important to consider the following:
• Seasonal climate in relation to the specific location
• Location in terms of rural or urban and where, within those
settings, the location is situated e.g. near good public transport for
example.
• The type of activity carried out at the location
• The type of building/s where the activity is carried out
• The individual environments within the building/s e.g. a warm office
or a cold warehouse.
• Any special environments that must be maintained e.g. cold storage
or temperature control to maintain the integrity of goods.
• Existing staff benefits such as warm wear, access to rest facilities
etc…

YOUR LOCATION: SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENT
In general New York
weather is very
changeable with
moderate
precipitation all over
the year, some heat
waves in summer
and very cool
weather in winter
and even in the early
spring. Snow is
concentrated in
winter months.
01
The months June,
July, August and
September have nice
weather with a good
average
temperature.
02
On average, the
warmest month is
July.
03
On average, the
coolest month is
January.
04
April is the wettest
month.
05
October is the driest
month.
06

[YOUR
LOCATION]:
SPECIFIC
ENVIRONMENT –
CLIMATE DATA

[YOUR LOCATION]: LOCATION ENVIRONMENT
AND PHYSICAL WORKSPACE…

[YOUR
LOCATION]:
LOCATION
ENVIRONMENT
AND PHYSICAL
WORKSPACE
SUMMARY
• From the images supplied we can discern:
• There is space to carry out simple standing exercises and stretches
• A walking route could be created to encourage teams to move
around the space
• There are stairs to exercise on
• Lifting and moving duties can be rotated
• There is natural light from a glass roof to allow a small café table
for coffee to be situated underneath
• There is a dedicated staff rest area although it is without natural
light
• All floors are hard surface. No carpet or wood to insulate for
warmth or reduce impact on the feet of staff working in this
environment
• A/C provides fresh air except in warmer seasons when the loading
bay door could be open

[YOUR
LOCATION]:
SPECIFIC
PROGRAM –
NEXT STEPS
• THE NEXT STEPS ARE:
• Suggest a team meeting is organised (with refreshments if outside
working hours) to find out from staff members what they see as
challenges to wellness in their workplace using the ‘You said we
did’ ethos and action plan template to develop a plan.
• Suggest that the location manager ‘gets to know’ their teams in
terms of underlying health conditions that might be exacerbated
by a change in climate. Caution: medical information is
confidential. If a staff member is consistently complaining
of a condition it is considered voluntary but all meetings
regarding a staff member’s health MUST be held in
confidence.
• Build the location-specific program that takes into account the
research and answers provided by the location manager to specific
questions about the location, staff benefits and attitudes / culture
in the workplace / organisation.

[YOUR
LOCATION]:
LOCATION-
SPECIFIC
PROGRAM –
BROOKLYN
NEWYORK…
• THE FOLLOWING ARE ACTIVITIES TO BE SET INTHE LOCATION-SPECIFIC PLAN (SENT AS A
SEPARATE DOCUMENT):
• Team meeting to gain staff feedback about how they view their working environment in relation to
wellness
• Measure general health in the team
• Make health recommendations as per the ‘take away advice’ in this presentation
• Educate on hygiene and infection control
• Establish existing staff health benefits including 90+ days health insurance, 90+ days transport benefits
etc… and promote
• Collate information on free influenza vaccinations available to staff (city schemes and staff home town
schemes)
• Establish numbers of staff with health insurance / access to healthcare
• Look at the location in terms of environment and rest facilities (can a person change from wet clothes
to dry clothes for example?)
• Look at warm-wear incentives
• Understand peoples’ journeys to work and document this (mode of transport, time it takes to get to
work, when does a person’s day start? Etc…)
• Devise a gentle exercise program within the workplace with incentives to participate (stair challenge,
stretching at the workstation, speed walking outside the building?) https://youtu.be/NmKYjahWFF0
• Look at the possibility of ‘job swaps’ for variety, networking and understanding each other’s challenges
• Team to understand the location manager’s day and accountabilities
• Understand the company culture in relation to its expectations on staff members and seasonal peaks
in business
• Build a local Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to be resilient in times of poor transportation issues.An
example might be working from home if the role is administrational.Another example might be to
‘pre-pack’ buffer supply bundles based on consumption data so that supplies can go out. Busy periods
can add stress and de-motivate teams.

Wellness in the workplace v1.0 example programme

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