Let’s Celebrate! October is
Healthy Workplace® month

Studies show that healthcare costs are increasing at twice the rate of inflation. In Canada, more than 50,000 strokes and 75,000 heart attacks occur every year. 8% of workers are taking medication to treat depression and other mental-health conditions. Mental illness costs the Canadian economy $51 billion each year. What are companies doing about this? 

With increasing pressures both at home and at work, many employees feel undervalued and stressed. This affects performance and productivity, as we know that happy, healthy employees are more likely to treat their customers well. They are also more likely to stay with their employers.

Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month (CHWM) is about celebrating employees, their successes, and accomplishments. During October, every employer is encouraged to take extra time to recognize their employees and show them how vital they are to the success of their organization.

Formerly a week-long event, CHWM is now a four-week-long celebration. “We are pleased to support the expansion of this initiative from one week to a full month, helping to further raise awareness of the importance and benefits of workplace wellness for organizations and individuals alike,” says Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs for Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life.

“We hope that employers and employees will take advantage of the challenges and activities each week of the month,” says Allan Ebedes, President and CEO at NQI. “Experiencing the joy and sense of well-being from this celebration will hopefully encourage workplaces to initiate and sustain a healthy workplace.”

The theme for 2008 is: Take the Healthy Workplace Challenge. Each week, organizations will be challenged to participate in an activity based on NQI’s Healthy Workplace® elements. The weekly challenge themes are Fit@Work, Support@Work, Green@Work, and Champions@Work. CHWM will announce winners for each week, so organizations are encouraged to step up and take the challenge. Organizations can register at www.healthyworkplacemonth.ca.

Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month is presented by Great-West Life, with the National Quality Institute (NQI) and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) as operating partners.   

Article originally published in Volume 10-5 of Your Workplace magazine