Guide to Promoting Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace

1 Guide to Promoting Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, August 2016. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Territory Records Office, ACT Government, GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601. Enquiries about this publication should be directed to Healthier Work, GPO Box 158, Canberra City, ACT 2601 or email: | Enquiries: Access Canberra 13 22 81. Accessibility The ACT Government is committed to making its information, services , events and venues as accessible as possible. If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format such as large print, please phone 13 22 81 or email If English is not your first language and you require the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS), please call 13 14 50.

2 If you are Deaf, or have a speech or hearing impairment and need the teletypewriter service, please phone 13 36 77. and ask for 13 22 81. For speak and listen users, please phone 1300 555 727 and ask for 13 22 81. For more information on these services visit Acknowledgements This Guide draws on the Premier's Physical Activity Council Tasmania (2007) Get Moving at Work: A resource kit for Workplace Health and Wellbeing programs1 and the State of Queensland Workplaces for Wellness Initiative. Healthier Work, within Access Canberra, also acknowledges the assistance of the Health Improvement Branch, ACT. Health , in preparing this Guide and associated resources. An ACT Government service under the Healthy Weight Initiative. This is a joint effort across business and government to make the healthy choice the easy choice for employers, managers and staff. We can each play a role in making our community healthier by Promoting , and participating in, Health and Wellbeing activities in the Workplace .

3 ACT Work Safety Commissioner, Greg Jones 2. A message from the Commissioner The ACT is not alone in facing the daily burden of Healthier Work, an ACT Government service within chronic disease, with tobacco smoking, alcohol misuse, Access Canberra and part of the Healthy Weight poor nutrition, physical inactivity and overweight and Initiative aims to build the capacity of workplaces obesity the main risk factors. to develop and implement programs, policies, and Many risk factors are preventable and businesses can practices that lead to healthy environments and play a key role in reducing chronic disease risk factors sustained healthy lifestyle changes for employees. in their workforce . The priority objectives are: With most Australians spending about one third of their increased physical activity lives at work, Health bodies such as the World Health healthier eating and drinking Organization have recognised the Workplace as a smoking reduction/cessation priority setting for Promoting Health and Wellbeing .

4 Reduction of harmful alcohol consumption Workplace Health promotion is about fostering healthy Workplace policies and supportive environments, reaching and maintaining healthy weight enhancing positive social conditions, building personal improved social and emotional Wellbeing . skills and organisational resilience, and Promoting Healthier Work is the result of a joint Australian and healthy lifestyles. Territory Government initiative, which committed to Workplace Health and Wellbeing programs not only reducing the risk of chronic disease by embedding have real potential to positively influence the Health healthy behaviours in various settings, including of our workforce , they also make good business workplaces. Since this initial agreement, the ACT. sense increasing employee engagement and team Government has continued to invest in Healthier Work cohesiveness in the short-term, and leading to reduced services . absenteeism, increased productivity and improved As a community, you are very supportive of these corporate image in the longer term.

5 Healthy actions. Both the February 2014 and March The national harmonisation of work Health and safety 2015 Canberra Omnibus Survey2 indicated strong laws further validate a renewed focus within workplaces support for measures targeting workplaces to improve on the Health , not just the safety, of workers. Under adult Health . the ACT Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the person This Guide to Promoting Health and Wellbeing in the conducting a business or undertaking has responsibility Workplace is supported by additional resources, tools for the physical and psychological Health and safety and templates to help you implement the core elements of their workers. A Workplace Health and Wellbeing of Workplace Health into an effective program. These program complements your Workplace safety systems. resources are available on the Healthier Work website at While individuals make daily choices around their Health and Wellbeing , the ACT Government is supporting healthy decision making within workplaces to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

6 This is a critical path to implementing long-term prevention programs for known Workplace Health issues. 3. 4. Table of contents 1. Introduction 7. Welcome 9. A national perspective on Health and productivity 10. The ACT situation 11. The business benefits of Promoting Health and Wellbeing 12. The elements for creating a Workplace Health and Wellbeing program 14. Overview of Guide sections 16. References 17. 2. A Simple Guide 19. Step 1: Establish Workplace commitment 22. Step 2: Construct your program 23. Step 3: Manage and evaluate your program 26. Summary of Simple Steps 27. 3. A Detailed Guide 29. Step 1: Establish management commitment 32. Step 2: Undertake initial planning 33. Step 3: Undertake needs assessment 34. Step 4: Action planning 36. Physical activity 38. Healthy eating 40. Smokefree 42. Reduced alcohol consumption 44. Social and emotional Wellbeing 46. Step 5: Manage your program 48. Step 6: Evaluate and review your program 49.

7 References 50. 4. Healthier Work Recognition 51. Recognition Scheme 54. Recognition the next level 54. 5. Resources 55. Health and Wellbeing Policy Example 58. ACT Online Employee Health and Wellbeing Survey 58. Individual Version of the ACT Online Employee Health and Wellbeing Survey 59. ACT Healthy Workplaces Scorecard 59. Health and Wellbeing Action Plan Example 60. Workplace Health Evaluation Overview 60. Case Studies 61. Frequently Asked Questions 61. Health Promotion Campaigns and Information 61. Service Providers 62. Bibliography 63. Contact Us 64. 5. 6. Section 1: Introduction Today, workplaces aren't enjoying the best of Health . 7. It makes business sense to find solutions. 8. Welcome When you see this symbol within the Guide , it denotes that you'll find that resource, or more information on that Workplace Health promotion is not just about Health topic, from the Healthier Work education. It's about fostering healthy Workplace policies and supportive environments, enhancing website.

8 Positive social conditions, building personal skills and organisational resilience, and Promoting healthy lifestyles. The Guide is supported by additional resources, tools Workplace Health and Wellbeing programs can range and templates to help you implement the core elements from a simple activity with a small investment to a of a Workplace Health and Wellbeing program. These comprehensive program with a substantial investment supporting resources are available on the Healthier for large numbers of employees. Work website at Whether your organisation is about to begin a Workplace Health and Wellbeing program or is looking Healthier Work is also there to help you to build on an existing one, this Guide will provide you work through this Guide , connect with with information to assist. You can use the Guide to suit the individual needs of your organisation and workforce other workplaces tackling these issues, as you move through the stages of creating an effective and refer you to services or resources Workplace Health and Wellbeing program.

9 That may support your program Healthier Work is an ACT Government, Access Canberra objectives. service under the Healthy Weight Initiative established to support employers to develop Health and Wellbeing initiatives within their Workplace . There are also significant promotional The ACT Government's Healthy Weight Initiative benefits for workplaces who create is committed to supporting a healthy, active and and commit to a 12-month Health and productive community. Wellbeing plan. You can find out more The Health issues covered in this Guide include: about these benefits in Section 4. physical activity healthy eating Contact Healthier Work at smokefree or 6207 3000. reduced alcohol consumption social and emotional Wellbeing . The remainder of this Section provides an overview of the significant Health and business reasons for Workplace Health promotion. It also identifies the core elements of Workplace Health and Wellbeing programs and how the rest of this Guide can support you to bring.

10 9. A national perspective on Health and productivity Like many developed nations, Australia is currently From a national business perspective, this situation is witnessing a significant increase in the burden of cause for tremendous concern; particularly given the chronic disease. A 2010 AIHW report found that 96% well-recognised relationship between poor Health and of working-age Australians had at least one chronic diminished Workplace attendance and performance. disease risk factor and 72% had multiple risk factors3. For example, the estimated cost of absenteeism to the The modifiable risk factors causing the greatest disease Australian economy is $7 billion each year5, with the burden are tobacco smoking, alcohol misuse, poor cost of presenteeism6 estimated as being nearly five diet, physical inactivity and unhealthy weight. As times more at $ billion in 2009-20107. major contributors to chronic disease, these risk Workplaces everywhere are feeling the impact (and daily factors lead to reduced productivity and participation cost) of the current Health of our workforce : reduced in the workforce and the community, and place great productivity, high stress levels, poor job satisfaction, pressure on the Australian Health system.