Workplace Wellness

1
Workplace Wellness in the Naugatuck Valley
Community   Olivia Sangiovanni, Isabella
Montecalvo, Wendy Bjerke Sacred Heart University,
Fairfield CT. Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT
Introduction Purpose Workplace Wellness is the
incorporation of physical activity, healthy
nutrition, and positive mental health into a work
environment. Employee health is crucial to a
successful business. The goal of Workplace
Wellness is to place healthy habits into
businesses to help break up the sedentary
lifestyle presented during the workday. This
goal will help to reduce chronic disease and
cardiovascular disease in a variety of different
work places across the country, but especially in
our targeted community , the Greater Naugatuck
Valley The 2019 Community Index show that heart
disease continues to be a leading cause of
premature death in the Valley.  By addressing
heart disease  through lifestyle changes we can
also influence other chronic diseases such as
diabetes, obesity, stroke, and some cancers.

• Health Concerns in the Workplace
• Sedentary behavior risks
• Heart disease 
• Depression 
• Musculoskeletal disorders 
• Workplace Wellness benefits
• Reduction in death rates in Naugatuck Valley
• Reduction of risk and prevalence in Naugatuck
  Valley
• Increased awareness regarding physical activity,
  nutrition, and mental wellness

• Physical Activity
• What do researchers say?
• Working hours are mostly spent sedentary. Overall
  goals of companies is to reduce prolonged
  sitting time. 
• Programs focus on approach more than
  incorporation. 
• There is a need for more facilities overall that
  promote physical activity.
• Incorporated into the Workplace
• Employees
• Take the stairs!
• Set reminders to stand up and stretch every hour
• Go on a walk during lunch
• Employers
• Create rewarding exercise competitions each week
  (i.e. reaching step goals, attending a fitness
  class)
• Fundraise for standing desk options for employee
  offices
• Create and maintain a clean gym with ample
  equipment
• Create motivational bulletins with exercise facts

• Mental Wellness
• What do researchers say? 
• The component of mental wellness is one that is
  often overlooked.
• ?Exercising mental wellness is a key component to
  a well-rounded healthy work environment.
• By promoting mental wellness, employees will be
  even more prepared for their workdays and become
  more motivated to participate in the physical
  health factors offered as well.?
• Incorporated into the Workplace
• Walks 4 Work
• Reaping Rewards Program
• Weekly Yoga Class
• Breathing Exercise Fitness Class
• Teaching Positive Mental Strategies
• Bulletins of Encouragement

• Conclusions
• Workplace wellness is critical in order to have a
  successful business and healthy employees
• Incorporating workplace wellness in your
  workplace proves to have benefits in the physical
  activity area, nutrition, mental wellness, and
  even in the Covid-19 impact.
• Workplace wellness provides benefits to all
  employees especially sedentary behavior ones!

Check out our corresponding website by scanning
the QR code!

• Naugatuck Valley
• We partnered with the Valley Chamber and Valley
  council to  target medium sized businesses, to
  improve health outcomes, and reduce rates of
  premature death by implementing a sustainable
  community wide initiative that addresses
  nutrition, physical activity, and mental
  wellness.
• Social marketing played a huge role by
  influencing  behaviors to promote social good by
  influencing individuals, consumers, providers,
  and policy makers

• COVID-19 Impact
• What do researchers say?
• Decreased physical activity and mental well-being
  were reported after working from home due to the
  pandemic.
• Communication with coworkers was decreased  due
  to no in person communication
• Distractions with children at home were reported
  which decreased physical activity opportunities.
• What can be done to enforce workplace wellness?
• Set aside specific time for you!
• Companies may allow a break between Zoom calls
  for employees to do a home workout or even
  prepare a healthy snack.
• Get outside! Incorporate a bike ride or a brisk
  walk into your day and you can do it with a
  neighbor!

• Nutrition
• What do researchers say?
• Most employees obtain high Body Mass Index
  levels, high waist circumferences, and a high
  presence of hypertension. 
• Many nutritional surveys show employees reporting
  dangerously low fruit and vegetable consumption,
  and a low nutrient adequacy ratio. 
• A healthy diet has been proven to promote a
  healthy immune system, leading to more productive
  workdays and less sick days for employees!
• ?Healthy diet is positively liked to lower risk
  of cardiovascular disease in employees of all
  ages. 
• Incorporated into the Workplace
• Nutritional Classes to teach about healthy eating
• Healthy Cafeteria Vending Machine Options
• Healthy Recipe Newsletters

• References
• A.L. Marshall,Challenges and opportunities for
  promoting physical activity in the
  workplace,Journal of Science and Medicine in
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  60-66,ISSN 1440-2440, https//doi.org/10.1016/S144
  0-2440(04)80279-2. 
• Khanal, S., Lloyd, B., Rissel, C., Portors, C.,
  Grunseit, A., Indig , D., McElduff, S. (n.d.).
  Evaluation of the implementation of Get Healthy
  at Work, a workplace health promotion program in
  New South Wales, Australia.
• Lisa M. Powell, Sandy Slater, Frank
  J. Chaloupka, Deborah Harper, Availability of
  Physical ActivityRelated Facilities and
  Neighborhood Demographic and Socioeconomic
  Characteristics A National Study, American
  Journal of Public Health 96, no. 9 (September 1,
  2006) pp. 1676-1680.
• Thorp, A.A., Healy, G.N., Winkler, E. et
  al. Prolonged sedentary time and physical
  activity in workplace and non-work contexts a
  cross-sectional study of office, customer service
  and call centre employees. Int J Behav Nutr Phys
  Act 9, 128 (2012). https//doi.org/10.1186/1479-58
  68-9-128 
•   Heinen L, Darling H. Addressing Obesity in the
  Workplace The Role of Employers. Milbank Q.
  200987(1)101-122. doihttps//doi.org/10.1111/j.
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• Vardan Siveshnee, Napier Carin. Workplace
  wellness, nutritional status and disease. Afr J
  Phys Act Health Sci AJPHES. 201622(2.2)605-625.
  doi10.10520/EJC192210mpacts of working from home
  during covid-19
• Xiao, Yijing Becerik-Gerber, Burcin DDes Lucas,
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  from Home during COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical
  and Mental Well-Being of Office Workstation
  Users, Journal of Occupational and Environmental
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