Transcript Working for a Healthier Tomorrow - Simcoe Muskoka District Health

Balanced Workplace
Health
PDF
A healthy workplace is a great
investment
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Why workplace health
 We spend more than
2/3 of our waking hours
at work
 Your work environment
impacts your physical
and mental well-being
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Why Workplace Health Promotion
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86% of employees are
somewhat or very concerned
with their physical work
environment.
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Just over 50% report
concern with job demands.
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One in five workers missed
over one week of work as a
result of sickness, injury or
disability
Health Canada, 1998
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Impact of Stress
 Three-quarters of
employees experience
stress due to the social
environment at work
 Employees with homerelated stresses are more
likely to be absent for 6 or
more days
 48% work under a great
deal of tension (Health Canada)
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Many things have an impact on your
health
 Social work
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environment
Physical work
environment
Lifestyle choices
Home life stresses
These forces interact
with each other
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Stress Leads to Unhealthy Lifestyle
Habits
 Watch more television
 Eat more comfort foods
 Smoke more cigarettes
 Consume more alcohol
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Lifestyle Health Risks
 Cardiovascular disease
 Stroke
 Colon and breast
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cancer
Non-insulin dependent
diabetes
Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Obesity
Mental Illness
Health Canada, Active Living at Work web site
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Costs of an unhealthy workplace
 Employees who have 3 or
more risk factors are
absent 50% more often
than employees who have
no risk factors
 Multiple risk employees
cost their employers 3
times more for drugs,
short-term disability and
absenteeism than less
risky employees (Health Canada)
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Business Costs
Rising Health Benefits
26% Average Increase
from 1990 - 1994
Conference Board of Canada Survey
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”Conference Board of Canada
Business Costs
Rising Health Benefits
 Prescription drug costs
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increased 45% from
‘96 to ‘00
 50% of the top 10 for
illnesses
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lifestyle practices and
workplace stress.
BCE EMERGIS EHEALTH SOLUTIONS GROUP
Conference Board of Canada Survey
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Business Costs
Absenteeism
$108,000 average for 100 employees
$135
X 8.0
Average daily salary
Average days absence per
employee
X 100 100 employees
Conference Board of Canada Survey
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Workplaces Have to Change
 Over 50% of the
workforce has little or
no access to workplace
health promotion
 Demographics are
changing
 Work ethics are
changing
 Workplaces are
competing for
employees
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Health Promotion Works!
A 1997 review of 365 studies (Craig-Evans, 1999) concluded that
many health promotion programs were able to produce changes
in knowledge and health risk behaviours specifically in four key
areas.
1.
Fitness levels
2.
Eating habits
3.
Job/life satisfaction
4.
Alcohol and illicit drug use
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
 Demographic Considerations (linda
duxbury backgrounder)
 The current and future retirement
issues related to the aging workforce.
 The current young workforce expects
meaningful work for a reasonable wage
while allowing them to maintain worklife balance.
 There will be a serious labour shortage
in the future making employee retention
a challenge for employers
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
A Safe, Healthy and Supportive
Workplace
 Keeps absenteeism rates
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down
Increases productivity
Reduces the number of
illnesses and injuries
Improves employee morale
Helps lower stress levels
Recruits and retains the best
employees
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Goals of the Wellness Works
Program
 To be a model of a healthy
workplace
 To help workplaces create
healthier environments for
employees
 To decrease employee’s risk
factors for chronic disease
 To foster health
communication among local
businesses
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Wellness Works Programs
 Annual Workshop
 Wellness Work Network
 Network Seminars
 Wellness Work
Newsletter
 Comprehensive
Workplace Wellness
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
What is a comprehensive approach?
 Offer educational
opportunities
 Provide skill building tools
 Strengthen policies and
procedures
 Improve environmental
supports
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Wellness Committees Are Key
 Shows employee and
employer commitment to
workplace wellness
 Committee determines
needs of workplace
 Enables effective
comprehensive
programming
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”
Long Term Commitment
A Wellness program
must be sustained
for a minimum of:
 One year to bring about
risk reductions among
employees.
 Three to five years to
demonstrate costeffectiveness
Source: Pelletier, 1997
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”