wellness
Wellness at work: Here’s what works By Marie Wood
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t Dotson Iron Castings, Josie Lust, value added service representative, serves on the company’s wellness committee and plans health and fitness activities.
Here’s what works for Dotson employees.
areas,” said Joe Meixl, director of health, safety and security for Mankato Area Public Schools.
Josie Lust
Here’s what works for district employees.
• Partial tuition reimbursement for fitness classes • Stop smoking program that partners quitting smokers with non-smokers who have quit • Volunteer opportunities in the community • Health and fitness speakers scheduled to reach all three shifts • Bulletin board posted with local fitness classes, healthy recipes and tips At Mankato Area Public Schools, wellness activities that capture about 400 of its 800 employees, are a success. With an annual budget of $15,000, health promotion representatives from each school coordinate district-wide events. Individually, they plan on-site group fitness classes and health presentations. “When you spend $1 on prevention, you save $3 to $5 in intervention in cardiovascular disease or other health-related
• Employee assistance 800 number: 24/7 resource to help employees face life’s challenges: relationships, substance abuse, debt and more. • Annual health screenings: Employees learn their numbers such as weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol and get a consultation on how to improve health. • 10-K a Day: Employees receive a pedometer with the goal of logging 10,000 steps a day. They chart progress on a map of the Appalachian Trail. Incentives and drawings add excitement. • Annual health fair: Employees learn about community resources from local health and fitness professionals. • Community Fitness: Employees participate in the Y Shape Up Challenge and other events. MV
Six healthy eating tips April Graff April Graff, registered dietitian for Mankato Hy-Vee stores, offers these tips to promote healthy eating in your workplace. • Offer healthy options at meetings and conferences. Swap out doughnuts and juice for fresh fruit and yogurt. • Reward hard-working employees with foods that fuel. Skip the calorie-and-fat-laden pizzas. Opt instead for whole grain sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetable-packed salads. • Make water available throughout the day. In many offices the easiest (and often only) beverages available are sodas. Add a water machine to encourage water consumption.
• Offer healthy options in vending machines. Give healthy foods prime placement within the machine and make prices competitive. • Have kitchen equipment such as refrigerators and microwaves available for employee food storage and preparation. • Create a comfortable break-room atmosphere. A break room should be clean and be a moderate temperature and free from unpleasant odors and loud noises. It should have adequate and comfortable seating.
MN Valley Business • February 2013 • 23