In 2012, Rutgers University and the Employers Association of New Jersey became partners in a new statewide program to develop an online toolkit employers can use to build healthier workplaces, with activities ranging from mid-day walking clubs to more nutritious snacks in the vending machines.
The pilot program enlisted small, medium and large employers in each county of the state. A steering committee included supermarket wholesaler Wakefern, the health plan network QualCare and the Medical Society of New Jersey.
After its initial work, the Workplace Wellness Campaign has been selected as a finalist in the Innovation Hero - Organization category in the 2013 Healthcare Heroes awards program sponsored by NJBIZ.
The Healthcare Heroes awards recognize individuals and organizations that have displayed heroic actions in the field of healthcare throughout New Jersey. Finalists will be honored and the winner in each category will be announced during an awards breakfast and ceremony in June 18.
The Workforce Wellness Campaign is taking the battle against heart disease and stroke into the workplace — and if successful, could make inroads against other chronic diseases like diabetes, said Melita Jordan, senior executive service director for the chronic disease prevention and control services unit of the state Health Department. The program’s funding comes from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to John Sarno, president of EANJ, preliminary data from the employers comprising the Workplace Wellness Campaign shows that six general areas of need have surfaced. They are:
1. Smoking cessation,
2. Healthy eating,
3. Physical activity,
4. Weight loss,
5. Stress/Depression/Anxiety reduction, and
6. Reducing the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
“Employers can make a difference in all of the above areas, although the robustness of the program will depend on both time and resources”, says Sarno.
About 70 percent of employees state that they would welcome information provided by their employer on healthy food choices and promoting physical activity. In a mirror image, employers report providing the least amount of information in these two areas.
Among other resources produced by the Campaign are 20 technical assistance webinars to help employers develop wellness programs. View video of the workplace wellness campaign here: http://gmghnj.rutgers.edu/webinars/