This blog was written by Penny Pohlmann. Meet our blogging fitness specialists at the NIFS website.
Each decade the Department of Health and Human Services identifies a list of health goals to strive for over the next 10 years to improve the health of all Americans. You may be familiar with Healthy People 2010. Now that 2010 has come to an end, Healthy People 2020 has just been released with an updated list of goals.
Take a look at the following objectives taken from Healthy People 2020 followed by the Workplace Action for contributing to this goal while also improving the health of your employees.
Physical Activity
Objective: Increase the proportion of employed adults who have access to and participate in employer-based exercise facilities and exercise programs.
Workplace Action: Provide your employees with an onsite wellness center staffed with certified fitness professionals who can provide safe, effective fitness routines.
Offer incentives for employees who regularly participate in worksite exercise programs.
Immunization and Infectious Disease
Objective: Increase the proportion of children and adults who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza.
Workplace Action: Provide onsite flu-shot clinics so that employees can get immunized for the seasonal flu at work. Provide discounts or reimburse employees for flu shots for family members.
Tobacco Use
Objective: Reduce tobacco use by adults.
Workplace Action: Offer a free onsite smoking-cessation program for employees who use tobacco. Provide discounts for nicotine replacement therapy products for employees wishing to quit smoking.
What are you doing to help us meet the Healthy People 2020 workplace goals?