Latest Activity!

Go For Health Windsor-Essex and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit were pleased to host the 10th Annual Working Toward Wellness (WTW) Healthy Workplace Awards and 6th Annual Bike Friendly Workplace Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, October 19.

This year, 25 Windsor-Essex workplaces received the WTW Healthy Workplace Award and 12 businesses received the Bike Friendly Workplace Award for their extraordinary commitment to the health and well-being of their employees. In total, 160 participants were present at this year’s event.

Stay tuned for pictures of the award winners.

About the Business SectorThis is a picture of people being active during a business event.

The Business Sector encompasses a variety of different types of businesses in the community; education, manufacturing, tourism, entertainment, retail, health care etc. The Business Sector is uniquely positioned to impact policy change, leading to a reduction in chronic disease, mental illness and injury in workplaces and residents of Windsor-Essex County.

Business Sector Policy Goals

To improve the health of Windsor-Essex County employees and their families through a comprehensive workplace wellness program that has workplace health policy development and recognition as a key focus. Improve adult nutrition and physical activity practices through the broad promotion and support of workplace-based Healthy Meetings and Events Policy

Business Sector Main Objective

Collaborate with business leaders to develop and implement policies that support healthy workplaces and lifestyles.

Working Toward Wellness Program

An important part of the business sector is the Working Toward Wellness Program (WTW). The goal of the WTW Program is to improve the health and well-being of all Windsor-Essex County residents. The program is based on a comprehensive set of workplace wellness strategies that each have an important role to play to encourage and support employees, retirees, and their families to take steps to improve their health. Workplaces in Windsor-Essex County are encouraged and supported in developing policies that support employees in improving their overall health and well-being at the worksite and beyond. The major components of this program include:

For more information on the WTW program and resources click here.

Collaborative Agreement with the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce

Recently, Go For Health Windsor-Essex lead by the Business Sector initiated a collaborative agreement with the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this collaboration was to work together to improve the health and wellness of employees, retirees and their families through health policy initiatives. The collaboration outlines four strategic policy initiatives.

Policy Examples

Here are a few policy examples that you can promote, advocate, adopt and implement as a key influencer in this sector.

  • Support a healthier workplace by creating a policy to adopt, implement and financially support a comprehensive workplace wellness program.
  • Develop a policy to provide environmental supports for your workers to encourage physical activity such as: shower facilities, bicycle racks, a room for on-site physical activities such as aerobics or yoga.
  • Adopt or revise an alcohol policy that raises awareness of alcohol issues, supports low-risk drinking practices, supports responsible service of alcohol at work/community functions, and supports employees in management of alcohol abuse.
  • Create a policy to educate staff about healthy lifestyles by integrating information about the employee wellness program into the new employee or returning employee orientation program.
  • Create opportunities for healthier food choices by implementing healthy food policies for foods sold through vending machines, cafeterias, and food concessions on the property. This may include the adoption of a healthy meetings policy to ensure the provision of healthy food choices in meetings, events, and workshops.