AHS program helps businesses improve employee health
October 7, 2011
LETHBRIDGE — Alberta Health Services (AHS) is partnering with Alberta businesses in a program that aims to help the province’s two million employed adults be healthy and stay healthy.
The Workplace Health Improvement Program (WHIP) will give employers the tools and resources needed to help their employees enjoy a good quality of life. Six employers are part of a pilot project now underway at the University of Lethbridge, Pepsi Co., Triple M Housing, SAIT Polytechnic, Alberta Oil Tool and Standens Limited.
“Businesses have the ability to positively influence their employees’ well-being by promoting healthy lifestyle choices and offering work/home balance,” says program co-ordinator Marlynn Kennedy. “For business leaders, the hardest part is knowing how to get started and how to measure the benefits. WHIP provides businesses with the resources and expertise to do that.”
Promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles is among the goals outlined in the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by the Government of Alberta and AHS, and supported by the province’s stable, five-year funding.
As part of the pilot project, AHS workplace consultants will work with the six participating businesses over the next several months.
The consultants present an educational workshop on the importance of workplace health that explains how to develop an effective, custom-made workplace health strategy.
Later, the consultants assess the companies’ organizational culture, occupational health and safety policies, and the overall health of their employees. From this assessment, a set of recommendations is developed for each organization, as well as a list of service providers, programs and resources that can help the business improve the health of its employees.
“With just this initial pilot project, we have the potential to improve the health of 5,700 Albertans,” says Kennedy.
University of Lethbridge wellness co-ordinator Suzanne McIntosh says she appreciates the support of AHS as the institution develops a wellness program that uses best practices to instill a culture of health and wellness into all aspects of its community.
“We are always looking to improve on services we can offer our employees,” McIntosh says.
“Participating in this pilot project will allow us to evaluate our current program by assessing any gaps we may have and developing concrete strategies to address and bridge those gaps. This is an exciting partnership and we’re looking forward to working with AHS to make it happen here on campus.”
Employee absence costs Canadian businesses $8.6 billion per year and worksite health promotion programs can reduce sick leave by an average of 28 per cent, studies show.
“We hope to get strong evaluation data from the pilot project that will prove the benefits of workplace health improvement,” says Kennedy. “Past research has shown healthy work environments can reduce risk of chronic disease, improve productivity and retention, lower injury rates, and improve employee engagement and morale.”
About 30 employers from across the province applied to be part of the pilot project; six were chosen based on several factors, including size, need and location.
AHS will evaluate the program at the completion of the pilot project.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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