WVDHHR > Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease

Well@Work West Virginia Resources for Worksites and Communities

West Virginians work! Spending so many hours on the job means we should do all we can to keep our worksites healthy. A healthy work environment reduces risks and improves our quality of life.

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health Division of Health Promotion Chronic Disease is committed to reducing obesity and rates of chronic disease. One of the ways we do this is through the well@work West Virginia Healthy Worksite Initiative. This initiative promotes and encourages healthy behaviors in worksites and communities to reduce obesity and improve health and well-being.

HPCD's well@work initiative uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Worksite Health ScoreCard to provide affordable evidence-based resources to communities and worksites. Visit the well@work West Virginia Healthy Worksite Initiative to learn HPCD actions to help employers improve wellness.

Getting started

We utilize the CDC Workplace Health Model and CDC Workplace Resource Center, additional resources to implement effective workplace wellness strategies.

How to get started in 5 steps:

Review: Check out the well@work WV resource section and Workplace Health Program Definition and Description.
Assess: Complete and submit organizational assessment--CDC Worksite Health ScoreCard (HSC) paper or online.
Plan: Develop a Health Improvement Plan with at least one SMART objective based on CDC HSC results.
Implement: Take action using the well@work WV implementation guide. (coming soon)
Evaluate and celebrate: Share challenges, opportunities and success.

Sample goals and ideas to help you implement the strategies:

Nutrition

Goal #1: Provide healthy alternatives to sugary drinks, processed packaged food, and fried food at events, celebrations, and meetings

American Heart Association Healthy Meeting Toolkit

WVU Extension Healthy Snacks for Meetings

Goal #2: Written policy or informal/formal communication making healthier food and beverage choices available in cafeterias or snack bars (i.e the policy or formal communication makes vegetables, fruits, 100% fruit juices, whole grain items and trans-fat-free or low-sodium snacks available in cafeterias or snack bars.)

How Huntington WV Is Restocking Its Future

American Heart Association (AHA) Healthy Vending Machines

AHA Healthy Workplace Food and Beverage Toolkit

Goal #3: Create written policy or informal/formal communication that makes healthier food and beverage choices available in vending machines

Kanawha County Is Making the Case for Healthy Vending

AHA Healthy Food and Beverage Pledge

Goal #4: Make most (more than 50%) of the food and beverage choices in vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, or other purchase points be healthier food items

WVU Extension Rethink Your Drink

Goal #5: Offer healthy foods to staff and guests, including not purchasing sugary drinks, candy, potato chips, hot dog, and other unhealthy foods to have on-hand at the workplace

Goal #6: Provide nutritional information (beyond the standard nutrition information on labels) on sodium, calories, trans fats, or saturated fats for foods and beverages sold in the worksite cafeteria or snack bars, or other purchase points

Goal #7: Identify healthier foods and beverage choices with signs and symbols

Goal #8: Subsidize or provide discounts on healthier foods and beverages offered in vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, or other purchase points

Goal #9: Participate in or provide educational seminars, workshops, or classes on nutrition

Goal #10: Promote and/or participate in our nearby farmer’s market which sells fruits and vegetables

Physical Activity

Goal #1: Have physical activity breaks during meetings, every half hour or so. It can be as simple as letting people get up and stretch for a minute, to get their brains moving and improve focus and energy level.

Take a Hula Hoop Break and Other Inexpensive Physical Activity Breaks

Staff Fitness Breaks

Post signs in elevators, stairwell entrances, and or exists at our workplace to promote stairwell usages, parking further away, lunch, walks, walking meetings, etc.

Goal #2: Provide environmental supports for recreation or physical activity?

Form A Healthy Community Group

Active Design for YOUR Workplace

Goal #3: Help organize at least one local event that promotes physical activity in your worksite or community. Help organize at least one local event that promotes physical activity in your worksite or community.

Organize a Monthly 5K For Fun

Start A Running/Walking Club in YOUR Community

Goal #4: Organize or support a free exercise program for our staff, community or partners (example: a lunch-time walking club, a running club, Zumba class etc.).

Make it Fun and Get People Moving

Put Up Bike Racks and Encourage A New Ride to Work

Goal #5: Partner with schools and/or community to increase physical activity through Shared Use programing. Partner with schools and/or community to increase physical activity through Shared Use programing.

Zumba After School

Share the School for Better Health - AHA