Effective health programs extend beyond the physical and mental health of employees and occupational health and safety. They focus on creating organizational cultures and conditions that inspire a highly engaged and effective workforce. Companies that develop and promote comprehensive strategies that include health programs and engagement strategies can expect to reap the rewards through more engaged employees, lower costs, improved productivity and financial performance.
The National Quality Institute (NQI) provides twelve questions for organizations to see how they measure up to the NQI Healthy Workplace Criteria. These questions provide a great starting point for organizations interested in becoming healthier.
1. Is a strategic approach in place for developing and sustaining a healthy workplace and is it based on employee needs?
2. Do your leaders demonstrate, through their comments and action, a commitment to the management of a healthy workplace?
3. Is there an overall health policy in place stating your organization’s intent to protect and promote the health of all employees by providing as healthy an environment as possible?
4. Do you have a formal assessment process to determine employee needs, attitudes and preferences in regard to healthy workplace programs?
5. Are the workplace health assessment results analyzed and are improvement goals set out in a Healthy Workplace Plan?
6. Does the Healthy Workplace Plan lead to improvement of all the key elements of a healthy workplace – the Physical Environment, Health Practices and the Social Environment and Personal Resources?
7. Do you have a mechanism in place to review relevant occupational health and safety legislation and are you in compliance with such legislation/regulations?
8. Do you have methods in place that make it easy for people to provide ongoing input on healthy workplace and organizational issues and to seek assistance?
9. Do you measure employee satisfaction levels (and I would add employee engagement and spirit at work) in order to improve the workplace?
10. Do you identify the contributions of your employees and provide appropriate recognition and rewards?
11. Are there good levels and trends in employee satisfaction (and I would add employee engagement and spirit at work) and morale?
12. Do you train your employees in healthy workplace principles and methods?
At Kaizen Solutions, we work with organizations and employees to create positive, healthy workplaces that foster well-being and spirit at work. We know that the factors that contribute to a healthy workplace also contribute to employee spirit at work.
Want to learn more? Sign up for our monthly newsletter where we will explore this topic in more detail. Read the book Rethinking Your Work and learn how to create spirit at work.
Val Kinjerski, PhD, is a leading authority in the field of employee engagement and on the topic of “spirit at work.” A consultant, agent of change and professional speaker, she helps companies and organizations increase employee retention and boost productivity by reigniting employees’ love for their work. Check out her Spirit at Work Program and Inspired Leadership training at www.kaizensolutions.org. Val is the author of Rethinking Your Work and Rethinking Your Work Guidebook. Available now at www.rethinkingyourwork.com.
