Government

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Ministry of Health

Healthy Work Environments

Why promote healthy work environments?  Canadian workers spend an average of

Partial funding for the development of the Healthy Work Environments site was provided by Health Canada
10.5 hours a day at work and commuting to and from work!  Workplaces are an ideal setting for promoting healthy behaviours and preventing disability and disease through healthy, safe work environments.

Did You Know?

  • There are 2.2 million workers in B.C. and over 1 million work in small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
  • Women make up almost half of the BC workforce and 8 out of 10 women will become pregnant during their working years.
  • Overweight workers may be less productive, more prone to injury and have higher claim costs.
  • In 2001, only 29 percent of British Columbians had programs at their workplace to improve health, physical fitness, or nutrition.

Even more, healthy workplaces are good for business. Healthy work environments improve productivity and reduce costs related to absenteeism, lost productivity, turnover, workers' compensation, and medical and disability claims.

Here are some resources to help employers and employees work together to create healthy workplaces.

The provincial government promotes a comprehensive model which includes three key elements:

  • Occupational Health and Safety – ensuring workplaces are physically safe.
  • Organizational Wellness – creating a healthy workplace culture.
  • Workplace Health Promotion – making the healthy choices the easy choices.
Radial Diagram

Making The Case For A Healthy Work Environment

A healthy organization creates healthy outcomes for its people – improved health and well-being, and for the organization – results in reduced costs and improved performance.  But what makes a healthy work environment? How do you build a foundation for success?  How does a healthy workplace benefit the bottom line?  Click here for answers to these questions.

Taking Action: Tips & Resources For Employers and Employees

Creating a healthy work environment requires the active involvement of employers and employees. Healthy workplace change is a bottom-up and a top-down process – leadership needs to be taken by people at all levels of the organization.  Click here for tips/resources to help make it happen.

Celebrating Success

There are many businesses around B.C. that are leading the way and creating healthy workplaces.  Here are some of their stories.