Health & Wellness at Work: Supporting a Healthier Workplace

Workplace wellness is not simply about encouraging employees to make healthier choices. A meaningful wellness program considers the physical, mental, environmental, and organizational factors that influence employee health and productivity. Health and Wellness at Work introduces participants to the purpose and value of workplace health and wellness programs, including productivity, healthcare costs, and absenteeism. Participants will explore different types of health behavior programs, health screenings and maintenance, mental health, and physical injury support. The course covers practical wellness initiatives such as increasing physical activity, nutrition and weight loss, tobacco cessation, and substance abuse treatment. Participants will also explore preventative care screenings, annual examinations, maintenance programs, stress management, support groups, counseling, and awareness and education. Participants will learn how to evaluate organizational needs, form a wellness team or committee, establish a budget and goals, develop programs and policies, gain management support, communicate initiatives, and use incentives. The course concludes with creating a culture of wellness and evaluating employee satisfaction and program results so plans can be improved over time.