Spokane Regional Health District Deemed One of Three of the World’s Healthiest Workplaces

Health District Honored for Exemplary Worksite Wellness Program

Global Healthy Workplace Awards and Summit 2014

SHANGHAI & SPOKANE, Wash.--()--Spokane Regional Health District was recently named an award winner at the Global Healthy Workplace Awards and Summit, April 9 and 10, held in Shanghai. This distinguishes SRHD as one of the three best workplaces for supporting employee health in the world.

The international awards were open to all employers and were divided in three categories—SRHD won in the category of small and medium-sized enterprises and acknowledged for its sincere commitment to wellness at the worksite, as well as a dedication to the health and safety of all employees.

Employers from 33 countries vied for the distinction of being considered among the world’s healthiest workplaces. IBM (USA) won in the category of multi-national employers and Telefônica do Brasil (Brazil) won as a large enterprise.

The two-day, invitation-only summit required that award finalists present program overviews to an international panel of expert judges, while detailing comprehensiveness and proving measurable bottom-line results. For distinguishing itself in these areas, in addition to the prestigious award, SRHD will be featured as part of a 12-month global healthy workplace promotional program and is slated to receive a $3,000 cash prize.

SRHD’s health and safety activities are guided by the World Health Organization’s Healthy Workplace Model and include:

  • Facilitation and assessment of healthy work station options
  • Providing and promoting physical activity
  • Improving access to healthy foods
    • healthy vending machine
    • fresh produce for sale in employee lunch room
    • SRHD Farmers’ Market
  • Cultivating a tobacco-free campus
  • Reducing workplace injuries
  • Overseeing wellness-specific internal data collection and assessment, i.e. employee wellness days, health risk assessment, health screenings and immunizations
  • Incorporating wellness into the agency’s strategic planning process
  • Breastfeeding and infants-in-the-workplace policies
  • Promoting green practices and policies

A free toolkit detailing these research-based approaches is currently available on the health district site by clicking here. Information can also be found at www.srhd.org. SRHD’s Web site also offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.

About Spokane Regional Health District and its Living Well Committee

Spokane Regional Health District is a local public health agency with approximately 200 employees that serves a population of more than 470,000 in Spokane County, Wash. Its Living Well committee has a 15-year history and enjoys strong leadership support and active involvement. SRHD and its Living Well committee is dedicated to developing policies, system and environmental changes that greatly enhance the way employees embrace safe and healthy choices.

Contacts

Spokane Regional Health District
Kim Papich, 509-324-1539
Cell: 509-994-8968
kpapich@spokanecounty.org

Release Summary

Spokane Regional Health District recently named award winner at Global Healthy Workplace Awards, distinguishing them as one of the three best workplaces for supporting employee health in the world.

Contacts

Spokane Regional Health District
Kim Papich, 509-324-1539
Cell: 509-994-8968
kpapich@spokanecounty.org