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Canada's Healthy Workplace Week is overseen by
the Canadian Healthy Workplace Council
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Theme
PEOPLE FOCUS is the theme for Canada's Healthy Workplace Week (CHWW) 2004 and one of the "drivers" in the "Canada's Healthy Workplace Criteria" developed by the National Quality Institute and Health Canada.
A focus on people means fostering and supporting a culture of trust and respect. In such an atmosphere, people can engage in positive "risk-taking" and are encouraged to reach their full potential. For example, in an organization with excellent 'people focus,' employees feel comfortable to take the initiative to suggest changes to work design and work issues.
People Focus means:
- Employees who need assistance from a colleague, supervisor or counsellor can easily access them.
- Healthy workplace initiatives are in-line with the organization's human resources and occupational health strategies and help to achieve the organization's overall goals
- Employee satisfaction and morale is measured regularly and action plans are implemented to make improvements where necessary
- Employee achievements are recognized
Throughout the CHWW website this year you will find many activities to help your organization become more people-focused. In the "How to Participate!" section there are some simple and fun activities and challenges that can be implemented during Healthy Workplace Week on October 26-31. But don't wait until then – start your planning now! The "Long Term Strategies" section provides ideas for making 'people focus' a way of doing business in your organization.
Healthy Workplace Model
Model Rationale
The centre of the Healthy Workplace Model shows that the goal of healthy workplace development is not only employee health, but also organizational health. The surrounding 'drivers' - healthy leadership, planning, people focus and outcomes show the actions required to achieve healthy workplace development.
CHWW 2004 is focused on People Focus, the third driver shown in the Healthy Workplace Model.
Employee Health
As shown in the diagram, the broad view of employee health considers an individual's ability to optimize their physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. How an organization functions – including its leadership style, communication methods, the way work is structured, reward systems, decision making style, culture, etc. – can significantly affect all aspects of an individual's well-being.
Organizational Health
The health of an organization describes its productivity, morale, effectiveness, financial health and competitiveness. Organizational health is impacted by the well-being of the employees, but is also affected by many other factors including leadership, communication, job design and decision making styles. And these factors, in turn, affect employee health.
Dr. Martin Shain has described organizational health as "relying upon management to create a supportive management culture through policies, leadership, programs and other initiatives, and upon employees to care for their own well-being."
The four drivers on the outside of the circle are fundamental to creating a healthy organization.
Four Drivers of a Healthy Workplace
The outer circle in this model shows four fundamental elements that drive a healthy workplace:
- Healthy Leadership Practices
- Healthy Workplace Planning Processes
- People Focus
- Measurement and Evaluation of Outcomes
For further information on these 'drivers' click here to access the Canada's Healthy Workplace Criteria.