October 31, 2011 - Last week, Equitable Life accepted a Gold Award for workplace
health at the 2nd Annual
Workplace Awards Celebration held by Waterloo Region.
This is the second year the Region has run its Healthy Workplace
Awards Program. The intent of the program is to "recognize and
celebrate workplaces in Waterloo Region that demonstrate a strong
commitment to improving the health of their employees."
Workplaces who receive an award have demonstrated that they provide
a variety of activities to enhance the health of their employees
and work environment.
To win a Gold Award, organizations are required to fulfill the
award criteria in at least three categories. Equitable Life met the
requirements for the "physical activity," "healthy eating" and
"tobacco-free living" categories by offering a range of strategies,
including awareness raising, skill building, supportive
environments and policy development.
"At Equitable Life, we want to support and actively foster a
healthier work environment for all staff," says Karen Mason, chair
of Equitable Life's Wellness Committee, or Be Well Crew. "This
award is truly a reflection of the contributions of all the
committee members."
Since its creation in 2009, the Wellness Committee, has:
- Conducted a confidential, comprehensive needs and interests
survey,;
- Implemented various onsite programs including Weight Watchers
at Work, fitness classes and various health challenges;
- Hosted lunch and learns on nutrition, safe bike riding and
stress management;
- Recruited teams for corporate fitness challenges such as Heart
& Stroke's Big Bike Ride, the Manulife Bike for Heart, and
Heatwave Corporate Challenge Volleyball;
- Organized table tennis tournaments and launched a Ping Pong
ladder;
- Held a Get Active Day encouraging employees to engage in 30
minutes of physical activity;
- Hosted a full slate of events to promote Healthy Workplace
Month;
- Installed a salad bar and healthy option vending machines;
and
- Drafted a Healthy Eating Policy, a Physical Activity Policy and
a Non-Smoking Policy to encourage, support and actively foster a
healthier work environment for all staff.
"The award also recognizes our efforts to integrate initiatives
of our Wellness Committee with Equitable Life's many ongoing Human
Resource programs and benefits," says Mason. "For example, we offer
our employees flu shot clinics, online health and wellness
resources and an Employee Assistance Program that provides access
to support from professional counselors." As well, Equitable
Life recently introduced a new Wellfit Account that allows
employees to submit reimbursement claims for fitness classes, gym
memberships, registrations for organized sports, formal weight loss
programs and more.
About Equitable Life of Canada
Since 1920, Canadians have been depending on Equitable Life of
Canada for financial protection. We offer a wide selection of
competitive Individual Life and Health, Group Life and Health, and
Savings and Retirement products to meet a range of financial
planning and health needs. As one of Canada's largest mutual life
insurance companies, Equitable Life is dedicated solely to its
policyholders. Everything we do is focused on providing them with
personalized service, security and wellbeing. Equitable Life
employs more than 500 staff members at its head office in Waterloo
and in regional offices across Canada. The Company is represented
by more than 10,000 independent advisors serving Equitable Life
policyholders across Canada and in Bermuda.
www.equitable.ca
For more information contact:
Don Bisch
Director, Corporate Communications
519.904.8017
dbisch@equitable.ca
