HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-06-006 - Wellness Programming1
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REPORT
Report To: Financial & Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: January 23, 2006
Submitted By: Ita Magid
Prepared By: Ita Magid
Wards} Involved:
Date of Report: January 17, 2006
Report No.: CAO - 06-006
Subject: Wellness Programming
RECOMMENDATION:
That an annual fund of $12,000 be established to promote Wellness initiatives, programming
and events. The monies would be funded from the City's Fringe Benefit Account and topped up
annually.
BACKGROUND:
In December 2004, Council approved a budget of up to $12,000 for Wellness initiatives for the
year 2005.
The wellness objectives identified at that time, were to improve productivity, improve staff
attitudes, reduce absenteeism, reduce health care costs and improve employee retention and
recruitment incentives. The programming that was developed was intended to begin to address
these objectives.
A Wellness committee with membership drawn from across the organization including union and
non-union representation was formed. The committee's first initiative was the launching of The
Wellness Fair in April 2005. The Fair was extremely well received by staff. Employees stated
that the fair was informative and beneficial to them and that they wanted this event to be
repeated
In addition to the Fair, the following Wellness initiatives were undertaken in 2005:
• Flu information sessions and flu clinics were organized.
• A Wellness newsletter called "The Wellness Brief" was developed for staff and is being
produced on a quarterly basis in conjunction with the City newsletter-City Talk.
• A calendar of wellness initiatives was developed for 2006 using the Region of Waterloo's
Public Health calendar both as a resource and a guide.
• A pension information session was held for Community Services' staff at their annual
wellness event.
• A Wellness Intranet site is currently under development with a launch date of February
2006.
REPORT:
To ensure programming, the monetary resources need to be available to develop new
initiatives, such as future Wellness Fairs, Blood Pressure Clinics, and Diabetes Clinics, as well
as sustain initiatives already undertaken such as the Wellness newsletter. The education and
promotion of current programs will also be an ongoing component of the Wellness
programming. Through these initiatives, we will be supporting and educating staff which will
develop a healthier, more productive, well-balanced workforce.
Wellness initiatives that have been developed for the 1St quarter of 2006 using National and
Regional wellness guides are:
• January, Non-Smoking month, we will be presenting several smoking cessation clinics
• February, Heart & Stroke month, provide several blood pressure clinics as well as
cholesterol testing clinics for employees.
• March, Nutrition month, provide nutrition awareness as well as food safety information
sessions.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
That the wellness allocation be funded from the City Fringe Benefit Account and topped up
annually.
Ita Magid, Supervisor of Benefit Development