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Workplace Wellness Best Practices

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More than 93,000 people are employed by school districts in Colorado. This sizable work force has a huge influence on the health and learning of students. Healthy employees are more productive employees. They have lower absentee rates and lower health care costs. They also serve as healthy role models for students and even help the school district project a more positive image in the community. Developing an effective employee wellness plan is a great place to start.

How does your district measure up?

  • Our district has a wellness leader and/or a committee devoted to employee wellness issues.
  • We have a district-wide employee wellness program that was informed by an employee wellness needs assessment and is integrated into coordinated school health programs.
  • Our employee wellness program is supported across the district community.
  • Our district provides ample opportunities for stress awareness, healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Our employees model healthy behaviors for our students and take a strong interest in the health and well-being of our students.

Districts & Schools

Some districts and schools in Colorado are leading the way to develop comprehensive workplace wellness programs.

Action Steps

Administrators
  • Conduct an employee wellness needs assessment.
  • Create a district-wide action plan that includes opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity and provides incentives for employees to participate.
  • Provide resources and technical assistance to schools that want to develop individual school employee wellness programs.
  • Provide opportunities for mental health support for all employees.
School board members
  • Develop a board policy that encourages 100 percent participation by all district employees, classified and non-classified, in workplace wellness programs.
  • In the community, promote the connection between employees who practice healthy living, good nutrition and physical activity with quality teaching and better support for students.
  • Support workplace wellness programs by modeling a healthy lifestyle.
Parents
  • Encourage employee wellness by thanking employees for staying (or trying to become more) fit and healthy.
  • Support staff by bringing healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables and whole grain items to school events and meetings.
  • Invite staff to PTA or PTO meetings to talk about the employee wellness program and challenge parents to follow suit.
Community members
  • Become a leader or a supporter of health and wellness among employees in your school district.
  • Help spread the word in your community about the positive impact healthy and fit employees have on student learning.
  • Partner with districts and schools to provide resources to support employee health and wellness.

Workplace Wellness Go Green

Resources

There’s a wealth of resources available to get you started. Among the most relevant to workplace wellness:

Alliance for a Healthier Generation — Employee Wellness
Learn practical strategies for developing an employee wellness plan and school employee wellness criteria.

School Employee Wellness
Visit this website to download School Employee Wellness: A Guide for Protecting the Assets of Our Nation’s Schools. This comprehensive guide provides information, practical tools and resources for the development of school employee wellness programs.

WELCOA
Find out how to build and sustain results-oriented workplace wellness programs.

“Healthy employees have fewer absences and are more productive. We wanted to look at ways to both lower health care costs in a responsible manner and create healthier environments. For us, wellness was the key difference.”

~ Steve Herzog, former assistant superintendent, Douglas County School District

The Colorado Legacy Foundation believes that increased student achievement for all Colorado students requires effective leaders in every school, effective educators in every classroom, and healthy and engaged students who come to school ready to learn.

Other Resources