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We continue to share stories coming out of the nominations from this year's Healthy Workplace Award, in celebration of October being National Healthy Workplace Month.Ìý The award recognizes efforts across one or more of the seven dimensions of wellness.Ìý

The submission from the School of Occupational Therapy provided a real sense of the support and belonging within the School, painting the picture of an inviting place to work. They hold fitness classes and healthy group lunches, held a mindfulness session and took the time for faculty and staff to connect at a School retreat.Ìý They promote an inclusive environment and involve their students in their activities to promote positive interactions across the School. A number of people's names were mentioned in their submission; numerous people contributing in their own way to make the School a place where people feel valued and can achieve together.

Those working in Financial Services spend a lot of time sitting and focused on their computer screens.Ìý It's just the nature of the work they do.Ìý They decided to try encouraging colleagues to move more by creating a step challenge for the month of February with whoever was interested.Ìý They hung a chart in the front area of our office to record their steps daily to see if they could improve on their own numbers from day-to-day and week-to-week. They were pleased to see that February's challenge had 37 people sign up and, in one month, they walked 4,856,456 steps.

With the end of February, people were missing the initiative and slipping into old habits, so April's "Step into Spring" step challenge was born.Ìý Along with the many benefits of people moving more through the day, they laugh, tease and encourage each other, building morale and support within the department.

Review award winning healthy workplace practices on MyDal at https://dalu.sharepoint.com/sites/mydal/dc/hr/Human%20Resources%20Documents/hr-hyd-hwpractices.pdf​

Watch for future posts that recognize more wellness efforts from other departments.

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