Guidebook

Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces

Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces

Approximately 75% of healthcare costs stem from preventable chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. In the fight to combat these diseases and their spiraling costs, experts call comprehensive, prevention-based employee plans a silver bullet to shrink health costs and boost productivity. Workplace wellness programs are a win-win for both employer and employees. An employee wellness program can raise awareness so employees with fewer risk factors remain in good health and maintain low-cost status. A program also can encourage employees with health risk factors to make lifestyle changes, to seek help to improve their quality of life, and thereby lower insurance costs. Positive changes can occur in the form of organizational and policy change to support healthier environments and healthier choices for employees. Employees who participate in workplace wellness programs are fitter, are more productive, have better morale, and are safer than employees who do not otherwise address chronic conditions. Employers who offer wellness initiatives have achieved excellent returns on their investment. The payoff in dollars as well as in quality of life can have a big impact on your companys bottom line. Programs that follow best practice guidelines return $2 to $4 dollars for each dollar invested through reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs.

Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces

is an initiative committed to helping local businesses achieve their wellness goals by creating or strengthening their employee wellness program. This county-wide initiative aims to: Guide businesses in identifying priorities and implementing promising strategies and best practices that ensure positive health outcomes Connect businesses to community resources that can help promote employee health Assist businesses in becoming a certified Healthy Sarasota County Workplace Recognize businesses that are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of employees

Benefits of Becoming a HSC Workplace

By applying, meeting the requirements, and becoming a certified Healthy Sarasota County Workplace, you will:

estment Return on Inv

invested, For every $1 ams can wellness progr in reduced 4 $ to 2 $ n r retu s and lost healthcare cost productivity.

Be awarded the Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces designation, decal and plaque Receive access to the Healthy Sarasota County logo for print and electronic use Get the chance to participate in Wellness Consortia to hone your wellness programs Have your business and its successes showcased on our website, healthysarasota. com

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Road Map to Becoming a Healthy Sarasota County Workplace

1. CREATE A WELLNESS COMMITTEE

With the support of upper management, create a wellness committee or establish a wellness point of contact at your worksite.

2. RSVP
Complete a Workplaces RSVP card online at healthysarasota.com or return a paper copy by fax or mail.

3. WELLNESS CONSULTATION
A HSC Workplaces consultant will contact you to schedule a free wellness consultation in which you will select goal areas and create an action plan.

4. HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
Conduct individual employee health risk assessments. HSC Workplaces consultants can direct you to resources.

7. SUBMIT APPLICATION 8. BE RECOGNIZED

Your business will receive a HSC Workplaces certificate display and will be recognized on healthysarasota.com. Submit a HSC Workplaces feedback form and application. OPTIONAL: Schedule a follow-up visit by a HSC Workplaces wellness consultant.

6. WORK ON THE BENCHMARKS

Work toward achieving your selected benchmarks by implementing strategies defined in the menus.

5. SELECT BENCHMARKS
Using this toolkit, choose major goal areas that fit your business interests and needs. Using the benchmark menus, select at least one essential, one recommended, and one optional benchmark to work on.

Healthy Eating BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS Promote healthy eating via email, posters, payroll stuffers, etc.
Policy supporting healthy food options at meetings Policy supporting healthy fundraising at work Promote visits to local farmers markets Promote Healthy Sarasota Countys 5210 Healthy Lifestyles message Offer classes related to weight loss, nutrition and physical activity Provide tips for eating out: www.helpguide.org/life/fast_food_nutrition.htm Post links on employee intranet to Cutting Calories, Eat More Weigh Less: www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating Participate in 5210 Healthy Lifestyles Train-The-Trainer program Policy supporting healthy snacks and drinks in vending machines
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

Resources
Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces 5210 Healthy Lifestyles Train-the-Trainer 941-861-2998 or www.healthysarasota.com Tips for Eating Out www.helpguide.org/life/fast_food_nutrition.htm CDC Healthy Weight info: www.cdc.gov/healthyweight Guidelines for Healthy Meetings health.ny.gov/community/disability/guidelines.htm Power Vending - Supporting Healthy Choices www.powervending.org/4_easy_steps.php University of Florida IFAS Extension - Community Gardens 941-861-9815 or sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Provide well-equipped break rooms for healthy meal preparation Encourage employees to choose water to drink and make it more available Grow a workplace garden with assistance from UF IFAS Extension Establish a weight-loss and healthy eating group at work Create incentive program using USDA SuperTracker: supertracker.usda.gov

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Incentivize participation in nutrition and weight-management programs Include family members in health and nutrition benefits Offer nutrition, cooking and healthy eating classes Subsidize group nutrition counseling by SMH nutritionists

Partnering Agencies

Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System University of Florida IFAS Extension

Physical Activity BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS Provide positive feedback and support to those taking active breaks
Promote a buddy system to encourage walking at work Encourage activity on breaks, lunch and at work stations Map out an indoor or outdoor walking trail and share with all employees Provide information on benefits of exercise and activity Start a walking club or encourage participation in active community events Establish a CDC STAIR-Well program Participate in 5210 Healthy Lifestyles Train-The-Trainer program
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

Sarasota Memorial Health Care Systems Bike Team gears up for the Tour de Cure Ride for Diabetes.

Resources
HealthFit: 941-917-7000 or www.smhfit.com South County YMCA www.southcountyfamilyymca.org Centers for Disease Control & Prevention STAIR-Well Program www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/hwi/toolkits/stairwell Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces 5210 Healthy Lifestyles Train-the-Trainer 941.861.2998 or www.healthysarasota.com Walk Jog Run: www.walkjogrun.net

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Incentivize weight loss/fitness challenges Make 5210 healthy lifestyles message and materials available to all employees Send texts/tweets reminding employees to be active Host a monthly fun activity and incentivize participation Offer on-site fitness classes Encourage commuting by bike with bike racks, showers and chaging rooms Incentivize purchasing athletic shoes for walking during the work day

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Provide on-site fitness center as part of health benefits Subsidize/discount fitness club memberships; implement pay-for-performance Incentivize participation in nutrition/weight management programs

Partnering Agencies
South County YMCA HealthFit, powered by Sarasota Memorial Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Stress Reduction BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Provide education and materials about mental health and illnesses, substance use, trauma, and stress reduction through various means: brochures, posters, intranet, paycheck stuffers Provide information on community resources for confidential screenings for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. Provide information on telephone help lines such as Sarasotas 2-1-1 hotline Provide flexible scheduling for classes, trainings, etc. Encourage recreation and involvement in community activities Offer a quiet room at work with soft lighting and free of mobile devices Offer massage therapy sessions (3-30 minutes) given by a licensed massage therapist and paid for by participating employees
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

Tidewell Hospice employees practice yoga at work to relieve stress and improve focus.

Resources
Employee Assistance Program & Pine Tree Counseling Center Sarasota Memorial Health Care System 941-917-6755 Bayside Center for Behavioral Health: 941-917-7760 www.smh.com -> search Bayside

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Train managers/supervisors in recognizing mental health as a factor in performance and in how to engage HR and EAP Provide a variety of mental health presentations and trainings with emphasis on coping skills, prevention, and treatment Offer classes on conflict resolution, managing priorities, financial planning, parenting, project planning, etc. Policy to encourage rest and stretch breaks Implement employee-paid & employer-subsidized yoga/relaxation sessions

Sarasota County Call Center: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Events Guide 941.861.5000 or parksonline.scgov.net

Partnering Agencies
Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Offer employees and family members assistance through the EAP Provide comprehensive health insurance coverage including mental health screenings, counseling sessions, and referral mechanisms

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Diabetes Prevention BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Raise awareness of diabetes risk factors among employees with this scorecard: ndep.nih.gov/media/you_could_be_at_risk.pdf Participate in 5210 Healthy Lifestyles Train-The-Trainer program Inform employees of complications associated with diabetes & developing prediabetes Link employee intranet to the South County YMCAs Diabetes Prevention Program; promote the program in the workplace Provide suggestions for healthy celebrations and fundraisers Promote SMHs Diabetes Treatment Program Place link on employee intranet to diabetes awareness and management websites: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/tcyd/
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

PROFILE: Karen W., 58

Karen has transformed her life over the last nine months. By the numbers shes lost 45 pounds, dropped her glucose from 96 to 70 and seen her BMI drop five places, too. But those numbers dont fully convey how much Karens mindset has changed since she joined the Y last September. Karen took part in the Ys 16-week diabetes prevention program, which required weekly weigh-ins, meeting and a food diary. Karen says these tools helped hold her accountable to the new lifestyle she wanted to embrace. I know I am worth it to be fit and healthy. This is the greatest gift I can give myself, Karen, 58, said. Look for Karen in yoga classes at the Venice Y or kayaking or riding her bike with her husband of 25 years, Jim.

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Offer no-carb, low-carb and low-fat options at celebrations and meetings Incentivize weight loss programs and celebrate successes Promote healthy eating classes such as SMHs Eating Healthy for Life

Resources
South County YMCA - Diabetes Prevention Program Diabetes Message Line: 941-492-9622 x299

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Subsidize weight loss programs Treatment programs Subsidize South County YMCAs Diabetes Prevention Program
Incentivize employee participation in YMCAs or SMHs Diabetes

Partnering Agencies
South County YMCA

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Tobacco Cessation BENCHMARKS MENU

If you have identified Tobacco Cessation as a goal area for your business, please choose at least one essential, one recommended, and one optional benchmark. Adapt the strategies presented to your companys individual interests and needs. A HSC Workplaces consultant can assist you in selecting and adapting benchmarks.

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Policy prohibiting tobacco use at work and on work property Promote Tobacco Free Floridas 3 Ways to Quit Schedule presentation by Healthy Sarasota County Workplace Consultant Inform employees of local and state cessation programs and services Link Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, Inc. (AHEC) Tobacco Trainings and Cessation website to employee intranet Promote www.smokefree.gov Contact AHEC regarding Tools to Quit or Quit Smoking Now Make AHEC education materials available to employees in common areas or break rooms

ESSENTIAL

RECOMMENDED

OPTIONAL

Luhrsen Law Group adopted tobacco-free policies in 2013.

Resources
Healthy Sarasota County Tobacco-Free Business Toolkit www.healthysarasota.com/workplaces.htm Tobacco Cessation Presentation: 941-861-2998 Florida Quitline 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (822-6669) www.quitnow.net/florida American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org Gulf Coast AHEC: www.gsahec.org

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Schedule a Tobacco-Free Workplace presentation to inform employees of policy changes and tobacco cessation options Host a cessation and awareness event such as the American Cancer Societys Great American Smoke Out with the assistance of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Sarasota Start a QUIT FOR LIFE Group with the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org/healthy/stayawayfromtobacco/quit-for-life

Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Partnering Agencies
Gulf Coast AHEC (Area Health Education Center)

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Provide Nicotine Replacement Therapy through health insurance Provide counseling through health insurance

Tobacco Free Partnership of Sarasota County

Drug-Free Workplace BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Policy to train managers/supervisors on drug and alcohol misuse/abuse (including prescription drugs) using Drug-Free Workplace Advisor: www.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfree/drugs/screen1.asp Policy in employee handbook prohibiting alcohol/drugs in the workplace and encouraging employees to seek help with alcohol and drug problems Policy to train managers/supervisors on drug-free policy, signs of drug abuse, and treatment resources using Drug-Free Workplace Advisor (above) Ensure the availability of a current list of qualified community professionals Ensure manager/supervisor access to NIDA publication Drug, Brain and Behavior The Science of Addiction (available at www.drugabuse.gov) Post NIDAs Drugs & the Body poster in employee restrooms Post links to local 12-step meetings on employee intranet
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

Buffalo Wings & Rings in North Port offers discounts to young people participating in D-Fy (Drug-Free Youth).

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Resources
Department of Labor Drug-Free Policy & Staff Training Modules www.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfree/drugs/screen1.asp National Institute on Drug Abuse Workplace Resources www.drugabuse.gov -> search workplace resources

Post link on employee intranet to Mixing Alcohol with Medicines: Harmful Interactions pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm Become a business partner of D-Fy (Drug-Free Youth), offering discounts or other perks to young people committed to remaining drug-free

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Investigate elements of a drug-free workplace policy with this tool: www.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfree/drugs/screen2.asp Adopt a drug-free workplace policy: workplace.samhsa.gov Allow the use of accrued paid leave while seeking treatment for alcohol and other drug problems

D-Fy (Drug-Free Youth): www.drugfreeyouth.net

Partnering Agencies
Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Support for Breastfeeding BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Provide list of local breastfeeding resources to employees Post breastfeeding-friendly decals at client and employee entry points Post Healthy Start Breastfeeding Magnet in restrooms and break rooms Policy permitting mothers to express milk at work using own resources Establish time and private place for mothers to express milk Train staff in how to respond to questions about breastfeeding Provide information on the importance of breastfeeding Post breastfeeding-friendly policy in customer restrooms
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

Thanks to Healthy Starts breastfeeding policy, breastfeeding moms like Jamee are encouraged to take their nursing infants to work.

Resources
Walgreens Breast Pump Rentals Waldemere Plaza: 941-955-6012 Bee Ridge Rd & US 41: 941-926-2522 Sarasota Memorial Breastfeeding Warm Line: 941-917-7413 Healthy Start Coalitions Breastfeeding Advocates of Sarasota County (BASC): 941-373-7070 Breastfeeding support groups Waldemere Medical Plaza: 941-917-1700 North Port Library: 941-485-6179 First Presbyterian Church (Jeannie): 941-266-4156 Birthways Family Birth Center: 941-366-2229 La Leche League Sarasota: 941-922-2449 La Leche League South County: 941-387-9402

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Investigate health insurance coverage for lactation counseling and support services; promote counseling and services Investigate health insurance coverage for breast pump rentals; promote and provide access to pumps Invite community organizations and guest speakers on benefits of breastfeeding Promote breastfeeding to new and expecting mothers and fathers

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Policy permitting infants be brought to work for breastfeeding only Policy permitting infants to stay at work for the first 6 months of life to promote breastfeeding Establish a private, dedicated lactation room

Partnering Agencies
Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County

Illness Prevention BENCHMARKS MENU

LOW-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Post Clean Hands Campaign signage in all restrooms and lunchrooms Provide information to raise awareness about flu, tetanus, pertussis, pneumonia, HPV, and shingles Prompt employees to get vaccines using this CDC e-card: t.cdc.gov/ecards/message.aspx?cardid=610 Refer employees to the health department or drug stores for vaccines Promote vaccines through mid-level management Post a copy of the CDCs Adult Vaccine Schedule: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules
ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL

Resources
Visiting Nurses Association (not-for-profit) 941-485-4661 or 239-337-4848 Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County Immunizations for Adults & Travelers William Little Center (Sarasota): 941-861-2784 North Port Health Center (North Port): 941-861-3864 Sarasota Health Care Services, Inc: 941-924-0347 Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Vaccine Schedule www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules Employee e-card Im Nagging Because I Care t.cdc.gov/ecards/message.aspx?cardid=610

MEDIUM-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS

Host a flu shot clinic during work hours Train managers/supervisors in infectious diseases, safety, and vaccines Incentivize employees to get their flu vaccines

HIGH-INVESTMENT BENCHMARKS
Provide on-site opportunities for vaccines for all employees Subsidize the cost of vaccines

Partnering Agencies
Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County

www.healthysarasota.com
Healthy Sarasota County Workplaces
Community Health Improvement Partnership 2200 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota FL 34237 (941) 861-2867