Health District Honored for Exemplary Worksite Wellness Program

For more information, contact Kim Papich, SRHD Public Information Officer (509) 324-1539 or kpapich@srhd.org
 
SHANGHAI & SPOKANE, Wash. –  Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) was recently named an award winner at the Global Healthy Workplace Awards (GHWAwards) and Summit, April 9 and 10, held in Shanghai. This distinguishes SRHD as one of the three best workplaces for supporting employee health in the world.
 
The international awards were open to all employers and were divided in three categories—SRHD won in the category of small and medium-sized enterprises and was acknowledged for its sincere commitment to wellness at the worksite, as well as a dedication to the health and safety of all employees.
 
Said SRHD Health Officer Dr. Joel McCullough, "Truly, the health district’s most valuable asset is its employees, they are at the heart of why we make such a tangible commitment to wellness at work. Although it is an honor to receive this distinction, the true reward is our employees’ continued improved health.”
 
Employers from 33 countries vied for the distinction of being considered among the world’s healthiest workplaces. IBM (USA) won in the category of multi-national employers and Telefônica do Brasil (Brazil) won as a large enterprise.
 
The two-day, invitation-only summit required that award finalists, including SRHD Health Program Specialist Tiffany Turner, present to an international panel of expert judges an overview of their program, while detailing its comprehensiveness and proving measurable bottom-line results. For distinguishing itself in these areas, in addition to the prestigious Global Healthy Workplace Award, SRHD will also be featured as part of a 12-month global healthy workplace promotional program and is slated to receive a $3,000 cash prize.
 
Staff from numerous programs and committees contribute to SRHD’s health and safety activities, which include:

• Facilitation and assessment of healthy work station options
• Providing and promoting physical activity
• Improving access to healthy foods
  • healthy vending machine
  • fresh produce for sale in employee lunch room
  • SRHD Farmers' Market
• Cultivating a tobacco-free campus
• Reducing workplace injuries
• Overseeing wellness-specific internal data collection and assessment, i.e. employee wellness days, health risk assessment, health screenings and immunizations
• Incorporating wellness into the agency's strategic planning process
• Breastfeeding and infants in the workplace policies
• Promoting green practices and policies

Spokane Regional Health District’s worksite wellness approach is guided by the World Health Organization’s Healthy Workplace Model and includes these components:

• Leadership Engagement
• Worker Involvement
• Continuous Quality Improvement
• Physical Work Environment
• Personal Health Resources
• Community Involvement
• Psychosocial Work Environment

A free toolkit detailing these research-based approaches is currently available on the health district site by clicking here. This toolkit, in conjunction with one-on-one technical assistance from SRHD (available to businesses with more than 500 employees in the Spokane area), can assist employers in planning a measurable, results-focused wellness initiative that has a higher likelihood of creating positive behavior change among employees.

For more information about the GHWAwards  visit www.globalhealthyworkplace.com. Information can also be found at www.srhd.org, where the health district will also be posting its slides from the GHWAwards in the coming days. SRHD’s Web site also offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.

About Spokane Regional Health District and its Living Well Committee
Spokane Regional Health District is a local public health agency with approximately 200 employees that serves a population of more than 470,000 in Spokane County, Wash. Its Living Well committee has a 15-year history and enjoys strong leadership support and active involvement. SRHD and its Living Well committee is dedicated to developing policies, system and environmental changes that greatly enhance the way employees embrace safe and healthy choices.