As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces have been rethinking and reprioritizing employee health and wellness. COVID brought about huge changes in both where and how we work. As we reconnect, we have a unique opportunity to build workplaces that put employee well-being at the forefront and to practice appreciation, recognition, and create connection.
Mental Health America’s 2021 “Mind the Workplace Report’ reports that most employees are already experiencing burnout and aren’t receiving the support they need, resulting in stress that is severely impacting employees’ mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified preexisting workplace stress and burnout, and now is a great time to analyze current policies to help reshape workplace well-being for a changing workforce. To retain and recruit great people, organizations need to be genuinely concerned about employee well-being, and dynamic wellness programs are an excellent way to build, demonstrate, and support employees’ overall wellness.
Polk County Public Health and Norman-Mahnomen Public Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Workplace Wellness Collaborative will provide businesses with the tools and resources to support employee well-being and provide actionable tips and thought-starters for new well-being initiatives and strategies in the workplace. The collaborative will discuss strategies for the workplace environment and policies that can support healthy living and make a big impact with little time and resources. Topic areas will include: leadership support, organization and employee assessment, managing stress and worry, belonging and burnout, connection and physical impact, social support, worksite environment, healthy equity, building wellness networks, and sample well-being policies such as daily movement, stress management, healthy eating, breastfeeding support, diversity and more. “The workplace collaborative will help to put a healthy workplace within reach and meet individuals where they are in their health and mental well-being journey. Take steps to create a healthier workplace and contact your local SHIP to get started! Each workplace participant will receive a stipend to assist businesses on wellness activities and initiatives following completion of the program. We look forward to continued partnership and collaboration with our Northwest region’s businesses and organizations in creating healthy workplaces,” shares Amanda Lien, Wellness Coordinator, SHIP.
To get involved or for more information, please contact Amanda at Polk County Public Health at 218-281-3385 or email at amanda.lien@co.polk.mn.us. Interested businesses are asked to fill out a few brief introductory questions in planning for the upcoming Workplace Wellness Collaborative in Fall and Winter 2022/23; questions can be found in English, Spanish, and Arabic here: https://forms.office.com/g/LKWQA3V9fA or can be emailed upon interest and inquiries sent.

source