Workplace health programmes address a range of issues that have the potential to significantly improve the overall health of workers and also have a positive influence on productivity, staff morale and absenteeism.
The goal of the programme is to create an environment supportive of health and wellbeing. The main areas the Heartbeat Challenge programme addresses are healthy eating, healthy weight, physical activity, smoking cessation, stress management and worklife balance.
A workplace is encouraged to achieve a Heartbeat Challenge Award. Initially a baseline is established via a checklist. A Workplace Health promoter then supports the workplace to make at least 15 new changes. Particular importance is placed on environmental change such as healthier choices in the cafeteria/vending machines, policy, availability of showers, bike racks etc.
Other areas include active transport, breastfeeding in the workplace, sunsmart for workplaces and organisational culture.
