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Healthy Workplaces quick links:
Healthy Workplaces Program Be part of the growing movement to make Howard County a model public health community.  The Healthy Workplaces program recognizes and assists Howard County workplaces that are committed to improving employee health and well-being across six main categories: nutrition, physical activity, culture of wellness, mental health, environmental health, and safety. No matter whether you have a well-established wellness initiative or are looking to start one, we can help by recognizing your current efforts in our certification program or connecting you with the resources you need to take your wellness efforts to the next level. Your organization may be eligible to receive Bronze, Silver, or Gold certification in recognition of your overall commitment to workplace wellness. There are many ways to qualify, making it easier for workplaces of all sizes and business models to apply. You also have the option to apply for an Innovation Award if you wish to showcase a particular policy or program that you believe is a cut above the rest. Benefits of becoming a Healthy Workplace include:
Click here to download the Application. For assistance contact the program coordinator at healthyworkplaces@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-6268. You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the process. All businesses with employees based in Howard County are eligible to apply. There is no application fee. The application deadline is Friday, August 27, 2010. Click here to download the Application. Click here to view Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for printer-friendly Healthy Workplaces information We also issue an email newsletter on the 1st of every month that includes community events, announcement, services, and wellness tips. To join the list or submit your announcement, please email healthyworkplaces@howardcountymd.gov Please submit items a week in advance whenever possible.
Click here to view the current issue For more information, contact: Email: healthyworkplaces@howardcountymd.gov Phone: 410-313-6268 Mail: Healthy Workplaces Program, Howard County Health Department 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 The Healthy Workplaces Program is supported by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene through a Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adult and Community Health (3B01DP009025-09W1). Congratulations to the 2009 Healthy Workplaces designees and Innovation Award winners! The Healthy Workplaces program certifies county businesses committed to improving employee health and well-being through six main areas of worksite wellness, providing an overall snapshot of the health environment in the workplace. This year, businesses were eligible for Bronze or Silver award level. (The Gold award level will be introduced in 2010.) Designees represented a wide range of industries and business models, including local, regional, national, and global businesses ranging in size from 2 to 250,000 employees. Silver level: Athelas Institute
Bronze level:
British American Auto Care Howard County Chiropractic Spine and Sport Rehabilitation Howard County Libraries Mettler-Toledo AutoChem Oakland Mills Interfaith Center Old Town Construction Smith Mechanical The Innovation Award recognizes businesses with a specific program or policy that goes above and beyond typical worksite wellness offerings. The two winners -- one large business and one small business -- were selected by a community awards panel. Each Innovation Award winner received a cash prize of $1000 from the Horizon Foundation. 2009 Horizon Foundation Innovation Award winners: Small Business Category: Old Town Construction Old Town Construction was the only workplace in the small business category to offer an on-site gym and personal trainer. When they first delved into the field of green construction six years ago, Old Town Construction’s offices were located in an old building that was generally unpleasant to work in. Employee morale suffered, taking of sick leave was common, and employee turnover was high in several positions. When they built their new offices three years ago, they truly embraced the idea that healthy employees lead to a better, more productive work environment, and prioritized accessible, on-site health promotion. Despite being a very small company, they invested in building a gym on site. To reduce barriers to access, employees have free access 24 hours a day, a personal trainer is made available on site several times per week, and changing, clothes storage, and laundry facilities are available. As a result, morale has improved dramatically, the use of sick leave has decreased, and there has been a tremendous impact in employee retention – even in positions that used to have a burnout rate of about a year, they have not lost an employee since moving to the new building three years ago.
Large Business Category: Tower Federal Credit Union All benefits-eligible Tower FCU employees can accumulate Healthy Reward Points for participating in a variety of healthy activities, including completing a Health Risk Assessment, undergoing a variety of health screenings, visiting the doctor or dentist for checkups, engaging in physical activity, or participating in classes on health topic such as weight loss or brain fitness. To assist employees in achieving these goals, the Wealth of Wellness program makes the HRA conveniently available online, offers many of the screenings at an on-site health fair, sponsors on-site Weight Watchers and Lunch and Learn sessions and fitness activities, and encourages physical activity through a Walking and Movement Challenge with encouragement from team leaders. Employees who accumulate a certain number of points receive a contribution of up to $350 to their Flexible Spending Account, which can then be used to pay for health care expenses. This program was selected for the Innovation Award because it is a creative way to incentivize employees to participate in healthy behaviors on their own time and could serve as a model for other businesses.
American Heart Association Provides information about the Start! Walking program as well as information on becoming “Fit Friendly” certified.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053113
American Cancer Society Includes tips and information on planning health lunch meetings, communication tools for posting health messages throughout the workplace, and employee health and wellness programs, including Active for Life, Choose to Change, Freshstart, and Quitline.
http://www.acsworkplacesolutions.com/
Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) Includes sample surveys that can be used to gauge employee attitudes and perceptions of wellness, reports, and case studies that give insight into the challenges and ultimate benefits of implementing worksite wellness programs, and links to other important resources.
http://www.welcoa.org/freeresources
Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center Provides outreach and education to the local community through a wide range of classes, screenings, and fitness programs at the Wellness Center located next to the hospital and throughout the community.
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