Active Living Surveyof Ramsey County Managers and Supervisors

Conducted March-April 2010Findings

Collaborative Effort

ALRC!—Active Living Ramsey Communities! Ramsey County Park and Recreation

Department

SHIP—Ramsey County Statewide Health Improvement Program

Ramsey County Public Health Department

Background

The Board of Ramsey County Commissioners passed a resolution directing the County Manager to work with Senior Management Team to address how Ramsey County can integrate Active Living Principles* into the work of County departments. August 2008

*Creating safe, convenient and affordable opportunities, environments, and policies that help people integrate physical activity into daily routines including all places where people live, work, study and play

Original Evaluation Questions What is currently happening to implement

Active Living Principles in Ramsey County Departments? (Gather examples from early adopters)

What are the perceived opportunities? What are the perceived challenges or

barriers?

Survey Development

Survey Purposes1. Establish a baseline of current practices

Internal—Infusion of “Active Living” principles into the work setting to promote physical activity of employees

External—Infusion of “Active Living” principles into programs and services to foster greater physical activity of clients, customers and citizens

2. Inform the work of ALRC! Policy Teams Infusion Team Attitudes and Behaviors Team Ramsey County as Model Employer Team

3. Increase managers’ and supervisors’ awareness of “Active Living”

Survey Content organized by infusion strategies

Strategies to Infuse Change Based on CDC’s Spectrum of Prevention* Inform and educate individuals Facilitate peer support Provide equipment and facilities Collaborate with interested parties Incorporate into practices and work rules Establish guidelines and policies

*Adapted from Centers for Disease Control

Questions: INTERNAL

What does your work unit have related to support physical activity of employees?

Questions asked about: Information and Education Peer Support Equipment, Facilities and Infrastructure Collaboration and Interest Practices and Work Rules Guidelines or Policies

Questions: EXTERNAL

What does your work unit do to support active living among clients, customers or citizens?

Questions asked about: Informing about PA Opportunities & Places Supporting Physical Activity Behaviors Educating Staff and Service Providers Collaborating Designing and Building Infrastructure Changing Policies, Guidelines or Procedures

Philosophical Underpinning of Spectrum of Prevention StrategiesEmphasis on individual responsibility and choice

Shared responsibility in an environment that supports active living as a way of life

The healthy choice is the easy choice

Emphasis on practices, guidelines and policies to promote active living

Survey Procedure

All Ramsey County department heads, managers and supervisors (n=496) invited to participate by County Manager

On-line, anonymous survey Two reminders sent Good response rate

52% All Departments represented

Results to be Shared with

ALRC! Teams SHIP Ramsey County Department Heads Human Resources New Worksite Wellness Committee Minnesota Department of Health Others

Findings

INTERNALPromoting physical activity and active living

of employees

Assets & Opportunities

Challenges

Insights

Assets & OpportunitiesBuild upon these to promote physical activity/active living Interest--Existing interest in physical activity

at work

Efforts underway--Promotion efforts underway in some departments

Facilities Available--Exercise facilities available at some locations

Assets & OpportunitiesExisting interest in physical activity at work 60% of managers and supervisors have

interested employees 37% perceive support from upper management 44% rate the degree of management support as

“moderate” to “high” Some work units currently have Champions

(15%) and/or Wellness Committees (15%)

Assets & Opportunities Promotion efforts underway in some

departments Some work units have conducted challenges

(8%) or offered incentives (5%) 27% have classes available before or after

work or at lunchtime 38% report the use of email or other internal

communication to inform employees 65% have regular breaks when physical active

is possible

Assets & Opportunities Facilities for physical activity available at some locations

92% identified one or more existing “facilities” for physical activity

Equipment, Facilities & Infrastructure An asset, not a barrier!This category had the highest rate of positive

responses Accessible stairs (60%) Nearby trails or walking routes (56%) Worksite accessible by multimodal transportation

(bikes, walking, public transportation) (43%) Indoor space available for exercise (34%) Bike facilities (racks 29%, lockers or in door parking

32%) Shower or changing area (29%)

Types of equipment and facilities available at some sites Walking workstations Treadmills Weights Exercise bikes Employee donated equipment Loaner bikes Gym Showers

Challenges & BarriersReduce these to enable positive forces

Perceptions Awareness Knowledge Opposing views Resources

What challenges do you face making your worksite more “physical activity friendly”?Limited space 44%

Types of work done by employees 39%

Lack of employee interest 27%

Limitations of current policy or practice 25%

Getting management support 25%

Location of work 22%

Lack knowledge of “active living” 16%

Other (heavy workload, limited time) 15%

None 10%

Perceptions—a challenge

60% of managers and supervisors indicate that employees in their work unit are interested in physical activity promotion

But, 63% do not believe they have management support for physical activity promotion of their employees “This is the first I’ve heard that the County is interested in

employees physical activity.” 57% indicate that it is “very” to “extremely important”

that Ramsey County enables them, personally, to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine

Perceived Management Support for Active LivingThe degree of management support for

integration of Active Living in their work unit was rated as:

none 17% some 33% moderate 26% high 18% very high 6%

Awareness—a challenge

Many managers and supervisors are not aware of strategies related to active living or physical activity promotion for employees

Percent that checked doing “nothing” for: Peer Support (55%) Guidelines or Policies (53%) Information and Education (39%) Collaboration and Interest (32%) Practices and Work Rules (27%)

Knowledge—a challenge

Describe the stage your work unit is at with regard to incorporating active living strategies.

Just learning about it 56%

Have begun exploring the topic 14%

Developing or have plans for changes 5%

Have made changes that impact employees 12%

Have made changes that impact clients, customers, citizens

1.6%

Have made changes that impact both 1.6%

Not interested at this point 10%

Opposing Views—a challenge (Themes expressed by a few) Not needed

“Most staff already have workout routines outside of work” “Staff exercise on own time” “Job is already physically demanding”

Not our job/not our responsibility “How much is work going to control individual lifestyle?” “Go live your life as you see fit” “Don’t expect government to take care of you.”

Public perception “Our obligation is to taxpayers to use tax dollars wisely” “Public perception of people getting paid to work out” “Continued fear that we as public employees will look like

slackers”

Resources—a challenge

Hygiene—need a place to clean up, dress Risk management—concerns regarding in-

office exercise equipment Implementation costs—funds dedicated to

the cause; funds for equipment and space Staff schedules—flexing not possible, 24/7

staff, set clinic hours Dual use space—can only use if no meeting Maintenance—responsibility for upkeep

Insights: Promoting Physical Activity and Active Living for Employees There are several identifiable assets and opportunities to build upon.

Equipment, Facilities, and Infrastructure is not the biggest barrier!

A majority of managers and supervisors believe Ramsey County should support being physically active, but many do not see promoting “active living” of employees as a part of their work responsibilities.

There is limited understanding of “active living” and how strategies can be utilized to infuse it into the work setting.

“Active Living” is a new concept for many RC Managers and Supervisors.

Building technical knowledge and changing attitudes and perceptions will be important for integrating Active Living Principles into the work of County departments as directed.

Information and Education for Employee Physical Activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Nothing

Maps

Resource Ctr

Mini-sessions

Posters

Health Fair

Email

Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors

Peer Support for Employee Physical Activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Nothing

Incentives

Stretch Breaks

Challenges

Walking Groups

Classes

Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors

Equipment and Facilities for Employee Physical Activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Bike RackShower

Exercise EquipBike SecurityIndoor SpacePublic TransitTrails/Routes

Stairs

Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors

Calloraboration and Interest for Employee Physical Activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

NothingCross Dept

Wellness CommitteeEmployee Planning

A ChampionUpper Mgmt

Employee Interest

Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors

Practices and Work Rules for Employee Physical Activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

OtherDept Initiated Str.

Organized Exer. BreaksMeeting Stretch Breaks

Flexible SchedulingRegular Breaks

Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors

Guidelines and Policies for Employee Physical Activity

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Nothing

Encourage PA

H&W Guidelines

Flex Time Policy

Percent of RC Managers & Supervisors

Questions: EXTERNAL

What does your work unit do to support active living among clients, customers or citizens?

Questions asked about: Informing about PA Opportunities & Places Supporting Physical Activity Behaviors Educating Staff and Service Providers Collaborating Designing and Building Infrastructure Changing Policies, Guidelines or Procedures

Ways Ramsey County Serves the PublicDirect face-to-face contact at RC facilities 65%

Collaborative work with other organizations 43%

Individual service in home or community 32%

Provide resources or facilities used by the public

23%

Service at other organization or business 20%

Planning or policy development work 15%

Design, build, or maintain infrastructure 14%

Reach through media, publications, events 11%

Findings

EXTERNALPromoting physical activity and active living of

clients, customers & citizens

Assets & Opportunities

Challenges

Insights

Assets and Opportunities

Encouraging physical activity and providing facilities and infrastructure is core to the work of some departments (e.g. Parks & Recreation, Public Health, Public Works)

65% of work units have direct contact with Ramsey County citizens as client and customers of their services & programs

43% of work units could influence other organizations through collaboration

Assets and Opportunities

Several managers and supervisors described positive examples of promoting physical activity and active living of clients, customers and citizens

Positive examples cross the whole spectrum Informing and counseling individuals Incorporating into programs Designing and building infrastructure Changing practices and policies

Challenges & BarriersReduce these to enable positive forces

Awareness Knowledge Resources

Challenges & BarriersReduce these to enable positive forces

Awareness—The majority of managers and supervisors didn’t identify ways they currently are or could impact physical activity of Ramsey County citizens.

Knowledge—Understanding how active living promotion can be infused into the on-going work is lacking.

Current practices and assumptions—Some mentioned rules that undermine supporting physical activity of clients.

Awareness & Knowledge—challenges Many managers and supervisors are not

aware of how their work unit could promote active living or physical activity of clients, customers or citizens

Percent that checked doing “nothing”: Changing policies and procedures (80%) Educating staff and providers (79%) Collaboration with others (78%) Informing about physical activity (72%) Supporting physical activity behaviors (67%) Designing and building infrastructure (65%)

Informing clients, customers & citizens about Physical Activity Opportunities & Places

72

3

3

9

11

14

0 20 40 60 80

Nothing

Mass media

Web-based

Programs

Ed & Counsel

Print materials

Percent of Managers & Supervisors

Supporting Physical Activity Behaviors of clients, customers and citizens

67

4

4

6

8

8

11

16

0 20 40 60 80

Nothing

Record System

Connect P eers

Sponsor Events

Brochures/Signs

Other Agencies

In P rograms

Recommend

Percent of Managers & Supervisors

Educating Staff and Service Providers of clients, customers and citizens

79

2

3

5

6

7

0 20 40 60 80

Nothing

Inform Contractors

Fund Conferences

Referral System

Train About AL

Train How -To

Percent of Managers & Supervisors

Collaborating to Support Active Living of clients, customers & citizens

78

2

4

6

7

9

10

0 20 40 60 80

Nothing

Citizens on ALRC

Convene Groups to plan

Dept rep on ALRC

Clients promote AL

Community Groups

Other RC Depts

Percent of Managers & Supervisors

Designing and Building Infrastructure to Support Active Living

65

3

5

9

10

13

15

16

0 20 40 60 80

Nothing

P A in Waiting Areas

Advocate Changes

P lanning & Development

Sidewalks, Trails, P arks

Active Transportation

Access to Stairs

Bike P arking

Percent of Managers & Supervisors

Changing Policies, Guidelines or Procedures to Support Active Living

80

2

4

6

6

7

7

0 20 40 60 80

Nothing

Require in Vendor Contracts

Recommend Rule/Law s Changes

Advocate for Policy Change

Explore Procedure Changes

Plan Env/Sys Change

Assess Current

Peercent of Managers & Supervisors