Benefits of Environmental Supports

• Motivate employees to start or continue with positive health behaviour
• Encourage employees to consider adopting positive health behaviour
• Reduce employee health risk at the workplace by providing a safe working environment

 Healthy Eating Supports

Healthy Food Policy

Develop a healthy eating policy for your workplace that identifies healthier foods to have in the cafeteria, vending machines, and for catered meetings and events. For example, start with one policy to increase fruit and vegetable options at workplace events (e.g., meetings, catered lunches). 100% fruit juice could be included as an option along with the other drinks at meetings. The policy could then be expanded to include other healthier food choices. Look at how criteria for healthier food choices can be worked into the tendering process for choosing cafeteria operators and caterers for business events. Sample policies are available from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, including a Healthy Meetings Policy and a User’s Practical Guide for choosing heart healthy foods and beverages. Selecting a smoke-free venue and providing “active” breaks for workplace meetings or related events can also be a part of the policy.

Food Storage and Preparation Equipment

To support employees in their efforts to increase their consumption of healthier foods, ensure that staff have access to a fridge, a microwave, and a toaster in break areas. Lunches brought from home are typically lower in fat, salt/sodium, and calories than lunches purchased at restaurants, cafeterias, or from vending machines. For example, the refrigerator could be used to keep milk, sandwiches, vegetables and low-fat dip, or yogurt cold.

Healthier Vending Machine Selections Program

If your workplace is thinking about putting in vending machines, look at a refrigerated machine that will allow for a greater choice of food. Label healthier vending machine options with stickers on healthier products. You could also label the product rows or columns as healthier, putting only healthier choices in those rows. Below are some healthier vending options that are currently available in some schools and workplaces. Contact your vendor for other options.

• Single servings of baby carrots and low-fat dip.
• Single servings of apple sauce, fruit cocktail, or other varieties of canned fruit.
• Single servings of dried fruit (e.g., apricots, raisins).
• Single servings of trail mixes (mixtures of nuts and dried fruit)
• Cereal bars.
• Low-fat granola bars.
• Single servings of nuts.
• Single servings of yogurt.
• Low-fat chips, pretzels, crackers.
• Servings (300 mL or less) of 100% fruit or vegetable juice or low-fat milk.

 Physical Activity Supports

Recreational Sports Program

Offer a sports program in a local school gym or community centre. Activities could include floor  hockey, volleyball, and indoor soccer. If offered after work hours, consider making it a family affair.

Winter Activities Presentation

Invite winter recreational clubs to come to your worksite and give presentations to encourage employees to try new recreational activities. Ideas include curling, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, or bowling.

Walking Groups

Encourage the start up of walking groups at your workplace by obtaining copies of the “Windsor-Essex Walks at Work” resource, available from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (519) 258-2146 ext. 3109. Set up an indoor walking route for employees who prefer being active indoors during the winter. Help set up and mark off a “walking course” that includes posted supportive messages along the way.

Stretch Breaks

Offer 10-minute group stretch breaks during work time. Invite a Certified Fitness Professional to train a number of employees who can then organize group stretch breaks in their own work area.

 Smoking Cessation Supports

Financial Assistance for Smoking Cessation Aids

Consider reimbursing employees for the cost of smoking cessation aids such as nicotine patches, gum, or inhaler with a prescription from their doctor. For more information on smoking cessation options for Windsor and Essex county residents, call the Health Unit at 519-258-2146 x3218.

Smoking Cessation Support Group or Counselling Services

Encourage staff to start a peer support group for employees who want to quit smoking, are trying to quit, or who have recently quit. Another option is to provide counselling services for these workers.

 Health Screening for Employees

Screening Clinics

Organize annual screening clinics for your employees where they can get their blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, and cholesterol values checked by qualified health care providers. See the Community Resources information resource for local agencies that provide this service.

 Workplace Health Promotion Wellness Program Award

Workplace Health Promotion Wellness Program Award

Apply for a Working Toward Wellness Workplace Wellness Award. To receive this award, a workplace must meet criteria that include having health and wellness policies and environmental supports in place. For more information contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at 519-258-2146 ext. 3100.