OSDH Invites Employers to Boost Productivity and Cut Health Costs Through Free Workplace Wellness Training
OKLAHOMA CITY - Healthy employees don’t just feel better — they perform better. Yet U.S. employers lose anywhere from $225 billion to $530 billion each year to productivity declines tied to personal and family health issues. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is offering employers a free opportunity to change that.
OSDH is seeking public and private organizations to participate in the Work@Health training program, March 25–26, a no-cost, hands-on course that helps businesses build practical, sustainable workplace wellness programs that support employees while strengthening the bottom line.
Work@Health event location, The Well, 210 James Garner Ave., Norman, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
“Workplace health programs help employees live healthier lives and reduce their risk of chronic disease,” said Work@Health Master Trainer Karin Leimbach. “When employees feel supported at work, morale improves, engagement increases and organizations often see that investment returned through productivity and retention.”
Oklahoma employers have already seen results. Since the program launched in the state, two master trainers and five certified trainers have worked with 49 employers, reaching more than 24,000 employees statewide.
The Work@Health program provides employer education, training, and ongoing technical assistance to help organizations develop evidence-based wellness programs that can reduce health care costs and improve workforce performance.
To participate, employers must:
- Be headquartered in the United States
- Provide employee health insurance
- Employ at least 20 individuals
Up to two representatives from each organization may attend the two-day training.
Participants will learn how to:
- Make the business case for workplace wellness
- Assess employee health needs
- Design and implement effective wellness policies and programs
- Measure outcomes and improve program quality
- Build partnerships and community connections to support employee health
Employers interested in participating can contact Karin Leimbach at KarinL@health.ok.gov or (405) 426-8294. More information is available on the CDC Website.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) protects and improves public health through its system of local health services and strategies focused on preventing disease. OSDH provides technical support and guidance to 82 county health departments in Oklahoma, as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/health.
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