About NZ Well@Work
What is NZ Well@Work?
NZ Well@Work is about creating healthy, productive workplaces. It provides tools and information to assist employers in developing and implementing wellness programmes in the workplace.
Why is Wellness important?
It is estimated that people spend up to 60% of their time at work – more than in any other setting. There is a clear relationship between work and health, with ill health and injury costing New Zealand business approximately $3 billion a year! (Jayne 2004).
Workplaces are an ideal setting for health promotion, and healthy habits can be incorporated into our working days. For example, choosing to walk or bike to work instead of taking the car, using the stairs instead of the lift, or selecting healthy options from the canteen menu.
NZ Well@Work offers help for workplaces who want to support staff to eat healthily and be active. The ideal workplace would support employees to:
- Eat a variety of nutritious food
- Reduce intake of fatty, salty and sugary food
- Eat more vegetables and fruits
- Fully breastfeed babies for at least six months
- Be active for at least 30 minutes every day if over 18 years and at least 60 minutes a day if under 18 years.
NZ Well@Work is a joint initiative with SPARC and the Ministry of Health. It's about encouraging change, sharing ideas and supporting employers to create workplaces that foster healthy lifestyles.
