SD34 Why wellness matters?

Concept of Wellness Model of Wellness Wellness Healthy Practices Physical Environment Social Environment and Personal Resources

Healthy Practices refers to healthy lifestyle behaviours Choices we make each day that determines our health and well being Exercise, Eating Healthy, Managing Stress

Physical Environment Health, safety, protection from harm and the comfort of the workplace Ergonomics, safety

Social Environment and Personal Resources Social Environment is the culture of an organization. Culture affects decisions about the design of work, and interpersonal relations within the group SD34 has a culture of hard work – is it healthy for employees?

Personal Resources Refers to the means by which individuals cope with stress and the sense of control they have over health and work. It also refers to a person’s perception that support is available during times of stress.

Wellness is all of these things exisitng in the workplace Model Wellness Healthy Practices Physical Environment Social Environment and Personal Resources

Why is this important? The cost of an unhealthy work environment has been well documented by multiple studies. 3 times heart problems 3 time back pain 5 times cancers 2-3 times conflict 2-3 times mental health problems 2 times substance abuse reduced ability to cope with change Issues related to performance including low creativity, low motivation, low loyalty and low customer satisfaction levels

Making Connections… There is a direct connection between instance of illness (physical and mental) and a toxic work environment. Healthy work environment means healthy employees Healthy work environment means healthy employees

What is happening in the work world and in Canada? In a 10 year study performed by Dr. Linda Duxbury and Chris Higgins on a study of work-life balance revealed: Increased workload and hours of work Increased working at home from 31% to 52% More stress, high on the job stress was twice as prevalent in 2001 than in 1991 Lower job satisfaction, lower commitment to employers Increased absenteeism Canada is going in the wrong direction….. (Full report, Work-Life Balance in the New Millennium: Where do we need to go

SD34 Challenge Opportunity and challenge for SD34 to become a healthier place 1.In what ways are we (SD34) healthy, and in what ways are we not healthy? 2.How do we make the culture of SD34 health friendly?

Employee Wellness Fair 2012 At Shared Learning Fair from 11-1pm What will we offer?