ALL WELL AND GOOD WORKPLACE HEALTH BENEFITS BOTTOM LINE By David Schmeichel
I t’s said a healthy workplace is a happy workplace — and by that logic, a provincial initiative promoting wellness at work might easily measure its success in smiling faces or long, contented sighs. But a healthy workplace is also a key indicator of a healthy bottom line, and in this case, participating employers are reaping the added rewards of increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and a labour force that’s sharper and better equipped to deal with stress. Since November 2013, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) has been encouraging member businesses to make a public commitment to employee health — by signing up for the province’s Wellness Works program and fostering environments that allow staff to flourish. The initiative helps employers to set health-related goals — everything from daily exercise and disease-prevention plans to strategies for reducing sedentary behaviour — and to deliver on those goals through collaborative employee committees and group support structures that inspire positive change. “This campaign will help encourage Manitobans to choose healthy alternatives in every aspect of their lives,” says MCC president Chuck Davidson.
16 MBiz | November 2014
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