The Healthy Workplace Recognition Program was established by the Workplace Workgroup of Healthy Living Hamilton to recognize organizations in Hamilton that make a commitment to workplace health.
For more details on the Recognition Program, please contact
workplace@hamilton.ca. The 2010 Application will be posted on the website by summer 2010.
Past Recognition Recipients include:
Canada Revenue Agency
City of Hamilton
City of Hamilton, Community Services Department
ArcelorMittal Dofasco
Hamilton Community Care Access Centre
Hamilton Wentworth District School Board
Horizon Utilities Corporation
The Hamilton Spectator
McMaster University
St. Peter’s Hospital
Stelco Inc.
Workplace Safety & Insurance Board
The 2009 Healthy Workplace Recognition Program Recipients
To be eligible for the award, these applicants had to meet a minimum number of criteria related to the promotion of being active, eating well, tobacco-free living and stress management in the workplace. Workplaces were eligible to apply for a category based upon the number of years that the workplace has been involved with healthy workplace related initiatives. Applications were then reviewed by public health representatives on the Workplace Workgroup Steering Committee of Healthy Living Hamilton.
The following workplaces were awarded for accomplishing numerous activities in 2008:
(Click the images for larger view)
Robar Centre
Starter Category 2009
Outcomes achieved in 2009 by the Health and Wellness Committee included gaining full support of management and the development of both an action plan and communication strategy to keep management and employees aware of workplace health initiatives.
The most significant health and wellness program achievements over the past year include:
- Implementation of a benefits package that includes an Employee Assistance Programs for all Employees
- Hosted a Health Fair for employees that included a variety of health and wellness information
- Creation of a health bulletin board which aimed to increase awareness around the benefits of being tobacco free, eating well, community service opportunities and the H1N1 Virus to both employees & students
Other Notable Achievements include:
- Participation in the Avon Paint It Pink campaign for cancer awareness
- Promotion of community flu clinics
The team at Robar recognizes the importance of the balance between health, wellness, and community involvement and continues to work towards creating a supportive work environment for both their employees and students to achieve this.
Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
Starter Category 2008
Supporter Category 2009
Outcomes achieved in 2009 included continued management and employee support of their Health and Wellness Committee, created in 2008, and continued their successful planning of healthy workplace initiatives.
The most significant health and wellness program achievements over the past year include:
- Creation of a Body Bulletin Newsletter that reaches staff and the Board of Directors
- Hosted consistent lunch n’ learn sessions for employees
- Promotion of community flu clinics
Other notable achievements include:
- Fostered a supportive work environment through anonymous thoughtful messages sent to co-workers through interoffice mail
- Hosted a workshop on how to make chemical free cleaning products
The team at Catholic Children’s Aid Society Hamilton focuses on supporting their employees in spending time to improve their health and overall wellness. While they are still a developing wellness committee they have received much enthusiasm, management endorsement and participatory responses.
Ministry of Community and Social Services, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Hamilton/Niagara Regional Office
Starter Category 2008
Supporter Category in 2009
Outcomes achieved in 2009 included the coordination of a wellness needs assessment and the development of a resulting action and communication plan.
The most significant health and wellness program achievements over the past year included:
- Hosted a health and wellness information fair about Healthy activities available in the Hamilton/Niagara Region
- Obtained a corporate rate for staff fitness memberships
- Encouraged staff to know their blood sugar and blood pressure through onsite testing with the Kidney Health Centre
Other notable achievements include:
- Winners of the 2008 Canada’s Healthy Workplace Week Challenge: Pathway to Health in the medium sized business category
- Messaging about wellness was available on the Ministry Intranet for the Hamilton/Niagara Region. The topics posted have included: "10 reasons to go organic", "Five ways to build up your Bones", "Five Heart Healthy Habits" "30 Benefits of Massage"
The Hamilton region Workplace Wellness committee has organized events over the past year that are informative yet engaging. This has resulted in a large increase in the level of participation among staff and shows promise for future initiatives.
City of Hamilton
Supporter Category in 2006
Sustainer Category in 2009
Outcomes achieved in 2009 included providing a supportive work environment for employees to have numerous opportunities to be physically active and take part in workshops offered by the City’s Employee Assistance Program.
The most significant health and wellness program achievements over the past year included:
- Experienced continued success with their physical activity challenges with participation growing to over 800 employees registered in the program
- Held a physical activity challenge which saw 37% of participants reaching the 10,000 step health benefit daily target level
- Held regular mental health training sessions for managers
Other notable achievements included:
- Employee wellness success received positive media and peer attention with articles published in the Hamilton Spectator, Your Workplace magazine, and Employee Benefit News Canada.
- The City of Hamilton was presented with a commemorative placque from Parks and Recreation Ontario in recognition of being one of the most active workplaces in Ontario based on their participation in Summer Active 2008.
The City of Hamilton aims to promote and protect the physical and mental health of all it’s employee’s. They continue to work towards improving their healthy workplace culture and implement leading practices.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco
Starter Category in 2004
Leader Category in 2009
Outcomes achieved in 2009 included raising awareness of healthy living to employees through internal communication and the creation of guidelines that modify the work environment to support employees in making healthy lifestyle choices.
The most significant health and wellness program achievements over the past year included:
- Created a pocketbook calendar for all employees which focuses on obesity, diabetes and mental health issues
- Coordinated a needs assessment to determine topics that need to be addressed within their workplace
- Hosted their biannual health fair attended by over 2500 employees and their families
Other notable achievements included:
- Created a business plan for the next 5 years which will help their Lifestyle Resource Group maintain their objective of implelementing sustatainable wellness programs
- Applied to Corporate Head Office in Luxemburg for their Lifestyle Resource Groups to be recognized with a “Performance Excellence Award”.
Dofasco has been involved with Healthy Living Hamilton since 2003. Since that time, they have undergone many structural changes, including being merged with a much larger company, ArcelorMittal, which has over 300,000 employees. The Lifestyle Resource Group within ArcelorMittal Dofasco works hard to continue reaching all their employees even in times of great transistion to promote healthy living.
Canada Revenue Agency
Supporter Category 2007
Sustainer Category in 2008
Leader Category in 2009
Outcomes achieved in 2009 included providing opportunities for employees to be more physically active through work and making an effort to reduce workplace stress, particularly for those working in off site.
The most significant health and wellness program achievements over the past year included:
- Arranged monthly lunch and learn events with topics chosen by employees
- Expanded their Wellness Committee by recruiting and training new Referral Agents and changing their Terms of References to include more members from the off site Call Centre
- Held stress management sessions for 300 Call Centre staff
Other notable achievements include:
- Developed a quarterly newsletter that contained information on multiple health topics and upcoming workplace wellness initiatives
- Obtained the support of library services to purchase and promote material in line with awareness events and initiatives
The Canada Revenue Agency Health and Wellness Committee have continued to increase participation rates in all activities and have observed a high volume of staff requests for health events. This increase in reach and demand can be attributed to their hard work and success as a committee in engaging and involving staff.
