A healthy workplace is fairly easy to identify, but if you don't have one, changing the culture can be very difficult.
That was the message this week as Southwest Region health units and their community partners hosted a workshop in Stratford. It dealt with how to recognize a workplace that isn't as healthy as it could be, and how to turn that around.
Dr. Graham Lowe points to higher-than-normal absenteeism as one of the most obvious and visible signs of problems. But he adds "present-eeism" can be more costly to employers because employees are there, but not really involved and not contributing.
Lowe says there several things employers can do to change the culture in the workplace without costing a lot of money. First on that list would be treating employees with respect, then making sure communication is open and honest, giving employees a chance to have some input, and identifying what employees need to be successful.
Setting up team fitness challenges, often over a lunch break, can be an effective team-building exercise for employees.
Lowe points out there is a definite relationship between healthy employees and a health workplace.