The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, in partnership with Health Action Windsor -Essex, provides a high quality, flexible program that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of your workplace, including five different models of service provision (see “WTW Program Options”). The Working Toward Wellness Workplace Wellness (WTW) Program provides local workplaces with a “win-win” solution for everyone involved - the community at large, the workplace, employees, retirees, and their families.

The Health Unit is mandated by provincial legislation to promote employee health and help create and support healthy workplace environments. Most adults spend a good part of their waking hours at work. As a result, workplace wellness is an important way to reach a significant proportion of our population. In addition, employees can share valuable health information with the entire family, in effect, extending the reach of the program. 

OUR GOAL

The goal of the WTW Program is to improve the health and well-being of all Windsor-Essex County residents. In working toward this goal, our greatest gains will be made if our program is intended for everyone, not just those who might be considered at risk of a certain illness or disease. By taking this approach, we not only help those who are at risk but we help prevent those who are not identified as being at risk from becoming “at risk”. With that in mind, our program is based on a comprehensive set of strategies that each have important role to play to encourage and support employees, retirees, and their families to take steps to improve their health.

1.AWARENESS RAISING - Provide information to increase knowledge and perhaps interest in improving a particular lifestyle behaviour.

 2.EDUCATION AND SKILL BUILDING - Help to build knowledge and confidence that a positive lifestyle change can be made and sustained.

 3. ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT - Create supportive physical and social workplace environments that encourage and support healthy lifestyles.

 4. POLICY SUPPORT – Ensure that organizational decisions, practices, and social and physical environments support healthy lifestyles.

In addition to this important approach to workplace wellness, two additional factors must be acknowledged because of their influence on employee health within the workplace: occupational health and safety practices, and broad organizational issues. The WTW Program team (WTW Team) can also assist workplaces to integrate these requirements and issues into an overall organizational culture of wellness.