News

SIMCOE, OCTOBER 8, 2010 – With millions of Canadians spending half of their waking hours at work, what happens in the workplace can have a huge impact on the overall health of employees.

October is Canada’s Healthy Workplace month, and this year’s theme is Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Work…A Positive Workplace Works! The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is encouraging employers to take steps to promote and maintain the physical and mental health of their employees.

“A healthy workplace is one where people are happy, healthy, safe and want to come to work,” said Lina Hassen, Workplace Health Promoter for the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. “A focus on healthy lifestyle practices such as being physically active and eating healthy, a safe and well-designed physical environment and a positive organizational culture that supports employee well-being are three key components of a healthy workplace.”

Making an effort to create a healthy workplace is a great investment for employers. Healthy and supportive workplaces helps businesses recruit and retain employees best suited for the job, reduce absenteeism, encourage employees’ productivity, reduce the number of injury and illness claims, foster creativity, and increase the quality of work and customer service.

“While there are financial and productivity gains reaped when a company invests in workplace health, the benefits go beyond that,” noted Hassen. “Demonstrating a commitment to workplace health is a great way for employers to show they care about the quality of their employees’ lives.”

Throughout October, organizations can register at www.healthyworkplacemonth.ca to participate in a variety of fun weekly challenges designed to highlight elements of a healthy workplace. The site also allows workplaces to track their results against other workplaces, find resources on workplace health issues, and share their success stories and event photos to show what they have done to create a healthier workplace.

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit also offers services to employers who are looking for ways to improve the health and well-being of their employees. A workplace health promoter will meet with workplaces to develop a customized wellness plan based on the needs of the workplace and assist in policy development. Newsletters, presentations and networking breakfasts for employers are also offered on a variety of workplace health issues.

Additional information about the Workplace Health Program can be found online at www.hnhu.org or by calling 519-426-6170 Ext. 3236.

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Media contact:
Lina Hassen
Health Promoter
Population Health Team
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Ext. 3236 at either 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623
[email protected]