Faculty/staff wellness program receives national award

Western Washington University’s Faculty and Staff Wellness Program received Platinum Achievement for the 2013 American Heart Association’s Fit Friendly Worksite program.

This is the second year that the program received this award.

The award is given to worksites that help employees eat better and move more. Platinum level employers offer employees physical activity options in the workplace, increase healthy eating options, promote a wellness culture in the workplace, implement at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture, and demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.

Western’s Faculty and Staff Wellness Program works with all employees of Western who are interested in living a healthier lifestyle. For some it means quitting smoking, and for others it means eating healthier or working out more. 

Kaylee Nightingale, Western’s Employee Development and Wellness administrator, said that this program truly makes a difference and this accomplishment was only possible because of the University’s support of this program.

American employers are losing an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of health-related losses in productivity. An employee’s lack of regular physical activity raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The American Heart Association studies have shown that implementing a worksite physical program helps increase productivity, lower turnover and results in happier employees.

To learn more about Western’s Faculty and Staff Wellness program, visit the website or contact Kaylee Nightingale at kaylee.nightingale@wwu.edu or 360-650-3386.