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Wellness is a complete picture of a person’s quality of life, encompassing
their physical, psychological and social well-being.
– Wellness Dividend:
How Employers Can Improve Employee Health & Productivity
What is wellness?
Why does wellness matter?
• Chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Alberta1.
• Chronic disease costs the Canadian health-care system about $80 billion per year.
• More than 40 per cent of chronic disease can be prevented1.
• When individuals look after their wellness, they perform to their maximum capacity.
1 Wellness Alberta
Any workplace health promotion activity, organizational practice or policy designed to support healthy
behaviour in the workplace.
What is workplace wellness?
Why wellness in the workplace?
• More than 67 per cent of the population over the age of 15 are in the workforce.
• On average 60 per cent of waking hours are spent in the workplace.
60%
Why wellness in the workplace?
Healthier employees are • more productive, • take less sick leave, • have improved morale and make
meaningful contributions, and • have a positive impact on their
organization’s bottom line.
For every 100 employees
90 have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke1.
60 are overweight or obese3.
32 do not engage in recommended physical activity2.
23 report a high degree of life stress4.
16 smoke5.
10 have been diagnosed with diabetes6.
5 have symptoms of a mood disorder7.
1.PHAC 2009, 2.Colley et al 2011, 3.Statistics Canada 2012, 4.PHAC 2009, 5.Health Canada 2013, 6.Canadian Diabetes Association 2009, 7.PHAC 2006
What’s known about wellness More than 80 per cent of all heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and more than 40 per cent of cancer are preventable if we:
• stop smoking
• start eating healthy, and
• get in shape1
Behaviour change is extremely complex
Stages of behaviour change
Confidence and conviction
June 19, 2018 Fal l employer session
Creating a healthy workplace
Find your ‘why’
• Focus on why wellness matters in your organization
•Earn employee buy-in when they understand why you care about their wellness1
1 It’s Time for Employee Wellness/Wellbeing to Reconnect with Our WHY, Rosie Ward PhD, 2017
June 19, 2018 Fal l employer session
June 19, 2018 Fal l employer session
Why?
June 19, 2018 Fal l employer session
To re-humanize the workplace so people can bring their best selves to work—and home—each day1.
To create the conditions for people to be the best version of themselves1.
To cultivate moments of insights for people so they can break past barriers and live a fulfilled life1.
1 It’s Time for Employee Wellness/Wellbeing to Reconnect with Our WHY, Rosie Ward Ph.D., 2017
Three reasons to invest in wellness
June 19, 2018 Fal l employer session
1. Control financial costs associated with an unhealthy workplace and gain benefits of a healthy workforce.
2. Build your profile as a good and socially responsible employer.
3. Show legal due diligence toward your employees1.
1 Conference Board of Canada
Starting your wellness journey
• Start small—even small actions can make a big difference.
• Make your commitment to wellness known to your employees.
• Launch Balance within your organization.
• Complete the 10 milestones of the Healthy Workplace Essentials.
• Access support from the Alberta Blue Cross Wellness team—at no cost.
Fal l employer session
Balance
• Online health and wellness program
• Value add—no cost
• Integrate Balance into your already existing wellness strategy
• Reward points & prizes
• Rewards store funded by ABC
– Customizable stores available for a fee
Gain insight into your employee health
• Receive quarterly reports with aggregate data.
• Tailor your wellness strategy.
• Focus your wellness dollars on strategies that will get the most value for your investment.
Live Balance Demo
Privacy • Information held by a third-party vendor
• Kept strictly confidential
• Aggregate information in reports
•No personal identifiers
Individual & Organizational Wellness
Employee
Balance Site
Organization
Healthy Workplace Essentials
Creating healthy Workplaces
Balance + Excellence Canada Partnership
Foundational requirements
(through Balance)
Recognition through prestigious Canada
Award for Excellence Program under the
Governor General of Canada
Healthy Workplace Essentials
• Framework to guide the development of your wellness strategy.
• Designed for organizations starting their wellness journey and those who need new inspiration.
• Value add—included in the Balance program.
June 19, 2018 Fal l employer session
Healthy Workplace Essentials • Critical steps to ‘get started’ to support the
foundation for organizational wellness (10 milestones).
• Incorporates the development of essential
employee health policies, practices and programs for your workplace.
• Includes recognition and celebration of
achievements. • Aligns to the Healthy Workplace Standard.
Healthy Workplace Essentials 10 Milestones
Milestone completion
Plan Administrator Site Tools & Resources
June 19, 2018
Healthy Workplace® Essentials Guidebook
Economic Burden Tool https://www.healthy-economics.com/
Example https://www.healthy-economics.com/
Balance Reporting
Employee
Balance Site
Organization
Healthy Workplace Essentials Program
Reporting
How to use data for prevention
01
02 03
Measurement Targeted Interventions
Baseline
Collected Data
• Participation metrics • Demographics • Modifiable risk factors • Lifestyle measures • Medication adherence • Behaviour change measures
Participation Metrics
Modifiable Risk Factors
Modifiable Risk Factors
Health Condition Risk
Spotlight Analysis (stress, financial health, diet, physical activity & weight)
Risk and Health Behaviour Measures
Lifestyle Risk Members at Risk “I wish I could”
Physical Activity 219 10.5%
Diet 183 7.7%
Financial Health 174 13.8%
Stress 143 21.7%
Sleep 107 20.6%
Medication 30 0%
Alcohol 23 0%
For more information, please contact your Alberta Blue Cross representative.
