An environmental scan of workplace wellness programs in Alberta

Private Sector 9 Number of Employees 9 Respondents’ Positions in the Organizations 10 When the Workplace Wellness Programs Started 10 Employee Participation 10 Responsibility for the Workplace Wellness Program 11 Evaluation of Programs and Involvement of Employees 12 Access to the Workplace Wellness Program 13 Goals of the Workplace Wellness Program 13 Communication Strategies 14 In-House Exercise [...] This survey was carried out by the Department of Physical Education and Sport Studies of the University of Alberta, in partnership with Alberta Recreation and Parks. [...] Seven years later, the Alberta Centre for Well-Being (which became the Alberta Centre for Active Living in 2001) administered the 1992 Survey of Workplace Physical Activity and Health Promotion Programs (Alberta Centre for Well-Being, 1994) in collaboration with the Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation. [...] Unlike the simple and traditional organizations with all their offices in one building or in multiple buildings within an area that belongs to the organization, the complex and non- traditional types may have to share their facilities with other occupants of the building. [...] One respondent said that the workplace wellness program both demonstrated “the employer’s interest in investing in the employees” and promoted “among the employees an increased involvement and higher engagement scores.” Many respondents saw organization support and commitment from the top as crucial to the success of workplace wellness programs.