Quarterly Update Winter 2014

Healthiest You A Healthy Workplace Initiative

Healthy employees making a

contribution to the organization

within a healthy workplace

environment.

Inside this Issue

Page 2 Ideas in action for better workplaces

Page 5 Minimizing holiday stress

Page 6 What is mindfulness?

Page 7 Staying healthy and

safe this winter

Page 8 Cultivating Mindfulness Course

Why not just live in the moment, especially if it

has a good beat? - Goldie Hawn

2014 Healthy Workplace Month a Success!

This October, the Saskatoon Health Region offered a variety of activities aimed to improve awareness of Healthy workplace initiatives while aligning with Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month 2014 theme “workplace wellness fosters happy and healthy employees”. The following programs and activities were offered to employees across Region:

Virtual Health Fair

Healthy Workplace Month Passport Challenge

Free Fitness Classes

Information Sessions o Mindfulness-based stress reduction in healthcare o Brain health: is your brain a muscle? o Health at every size o Assessing your lifestyle

Keynote – Open Your Mind to Possibilities with Shelley Keyes

2nd

Annual Healthy Workplace Champion Summit

We also conducted a survey of participants to collect data on activities that we hosted for the month as well as options people would like to see offered in the future.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the different events and provided their feedback so that we are able to continually improve based on the needs and interests of Saskatoon Health Region employees.

See the full summary on the on the Infonet or contact Donna Chalifoux at donna.chalifoux@saskatoonhealthregion.ca.

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

inspired workplace Fresh thinking on creating a better work environment

…for champions, by champions

Registered nurse Sue-Ellen White wants to promote

team spirit in the workplace.

With that goal in mind, Sue-Ellen recently made a

pledge for Saskatchewan’s first Change Day. Her

pledge was “to promote team work and to encourage

everyone to treat each other equally and with

respect.”

Sue-Ellen, who works at Saskatoon City Hospital, is now

putting her pledge into action. With her friend Marie

Orr-Gosselin, a licensed practical nurse at Parkridge

Centre, she is working on a grassroots initiative to foster

a sense of team spirit among health care employees.

Sue-Ellen and Marie are selling brightly coloured T-shirts

that are emblazoned with the words “We work as a

TEAM.” The logo on the T-shirt lists various health care

jobs, and each job is depicted as an equal piece of

the pie.

Sue-Ellen and Marie want “to bring people together”

and “show respect to one another.”

“We enjoy our jobs and all the people we work with. We want to help increase morale between staff,” they said in a

statement that they wrote to explain their initiative.

“To us it doesn’t matter your education level, your pay grade, the letters behind your name, or what you bring to the

team. We work together. We work as a team to get the job done.

“No one can do their job without the person beside them. Each person is an individual and important in our day-to-day

work. Patients are the reason we strive to do our best, but it’s the people beside us that get us to our best.”

Sue-Ellen and Marie say they created the T-shirts and the logo “to help show what we are working for – a positive

atmosphere.” They hope their idea spreads throughout Saskatchewan, and they emphasize that everyone is welcome

to wear a T-shirt and join their campaign.

For More SK Change Day ideas and stories visit the website at www.skchangeday.com.

Inspiring BETTER WORKPLACES ideas in action for healthier work environments

CHA

Workplace wellbeing relates to all aspects of your work life from the health

and safety of your physical environment, work life balance, to opportunities

for professional growth and development. Essentially it is how you feel about

your work and your workplace environment.

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

…inspiring better workplaces continued

To share your inspiring ideas to create a better workplace, contact Donna at

donna.chalifoux@saskatoonhealthregio.ca or call 655-6228.

Fun at Work Earlier this year, the Payroll Department took on

and won the Fun at Work Challenge offered

through the Healthy Workplace Initiative. Here is

one week of fun events that Payroll staff took part

in over the month of June 2014.

June 1 – 7:

3rd Annual Payroll Office Olympics on June 5;

Staff participated in 6 different Olympic events

spread out around the office over the course of

1 hour – Payroll Archery, “Boss Ball”, Human

Calculator, Microfiche challenge, Kaizen Puzzle,

Payroll obstacle course. Great team-building

took place. Staff were divided randomly into

teams and assigned a team color. They had to

come up with costumes, a team name & a

team flag. Some teams went all out, but almost

all staff members participated. Then we

enjoyed some after work beverages at local

pub.

Had a potluck lunch. We have become locally

famous for our Potluck lunches! We try to have

one at least every other month. We’ll pick an

occasion just for the sake of having one!

Everybody participates in this, as they are

always super delicious! We have actually

divided our office into 2 groups, so one group

will bring to one potluck, and the other group

will bring to the next one. In the past, we’ve

had themed lunches (breakfast theme, “Black

tie”/formal theme)

Daily Yoga/Stretches @ 1:30pm

Walk in park at afternoon coffee; a couple of us

planted Sunflowers at the Children’s festival!

Department/Unit: Payroll, Avord Tower

No. of Participants: 20-25 employees

In general, we think our office has always had “fun

at work”. We saw this challenge as an opportunity

to document and enhance the fun things we do

manage to squeeze in. In addition to fun in our

office, we also collaborate with the Finance

department once a year in the fall for a larger

team-building event. This started years ago with the

former VP of Finance, Deb Rhodes and has carried

on. In 2012, volunteers from both departments

organized a walking scavenger hunt of downtown.

In 2013, the committee organized a very successful

Finance Amazing Race (and we’ve already had

requests to do something similar again this year).

What makes all these fun things possible is the group

of people that we are fortunate enough to

work with. Even though we all have different

personalities and lives outside of work, we

somehow manage to work & have fun

together! We believe that this helps us in our

daily jobs as we are more relaxed & open to

learning, and have a better attitude when dealing

with difficult situations.

Thank you to Judy Barkman for this

submission.

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

Payroll Fun at Work continued…

June 8 – 14 Brought back “Mystery Treat Thursday”, which was something we had started in May; a volunteer or

group of volunteers arranged a special treat for the staff. This week it was an Ice Cream Sundae Bar (In

May we had an Ice Cream Float day). “Punch cards” were developed to add some extra fun to this

special treat.

Daily Yoga/Stretches @ 1:30pm

Weekly Wall Walk where we recognize any positive feedback

June 15- 21 Payroll Candy Crush (round 1) – payroll staff member donated 3 jars filled with candy; staff had to

guess how many candies in each jar and the closest to the actual number won the jar with the candy.

Amazing how a bunch of women (& 1 guy) get excited about candy!

Mystery Treat Thursday – Funny how this has become contagious, and now others within the office are

volunteering to bring a mystery treat. This week was a delicious home-made rhubarb cake, made

with rhubarb from another staff member’s garden, complete with fresh cream and/or ice cream to

top it off with.

Daily Yoga/Stretches @ 1:30pm – We are fortunate enough to have a registered & licensed Yoga

instructor in our midst, so every day at 1:30, she leads us in 5 minutes of stretches and relaxation. We

gather at our visibility wall and stretch down the hallway so everybody has enough room. When our

instructor is away, we take turns leading this group activity. It helps us to refresh in the middle of the

day, and we find increased productivity in the afternoon

Weekly Wall Walk where we recognize any positive feedback

June 22-28 Developed the “Payroll Gold Star” champion award, where employees can anonymously nominate a

co-worker for something they have done (exceptional customer service, helping others etc.) or just

because they deserve it. Each week the recipient of this award will get to keep the very classy trophy

at their desk for the week. Then the following week, they will pass it off to the next recipient. This is just

a way to recognize the good work our co-workers do on a daily basis.

Daily Yoga/Stretches @ 1:30pm

Weekly Wall Walk where we recognize any positive feedback

Payroll Candy Crush (round 2) – a staff member donated 3 more jars filled with candy; staff had to

guess how many candies in each jar and the closest to the actual number won the jar with the candy.

Long Service Award recognition & presentation on June 26th – we had a special morning coffee

break/party with cake & speeches to recognize our 4 long service award recipients. We had 1-10

year award, 2-15 year awards & 1-25 year award!

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

Minimizing holiday stress through

mindfulness Source: Homewood Human Solutions

The holiday season can be one of the most stressful

times of the year. The expense, the pressure, the

rush, the excitement and our often unrealistic

expectations can leave us emotionally and

physically exhausted. It can also be a sad time if

we’re missing distant family or remembering those

we’ve lost. And if we don’t celebrate the holidays,

the barrage of music, decorations, traditions and

television programs may make us feel excluded

and alienated. One way to cope with the stress of

the holiday season is by practicing mindfulness.

During such a hectic time of year, it can be

extremely challenging to focus our attention on the

present moment and appreciate everything around

us in that moment. But here are a few ways to begin

the process.

*accept people for who they are. Don’t expect

family, friends or coworkers to be perfect just

because it’s the holidays. In fact, conflicts and

dysfunction are actually heightened at this time of

the year.

Accept that people will not necessarily act the way

you want them to and that events may not go

exactly as you had planned. Acceptance doesn’t

mean resignation. It means not focusing on your

opinions, judgments and desire to do things

differently.

*be compassionate. If family or financial problems

overwhelm you during the holidays, it’s easy to think

you’re the only one struggling. Having compassion

for others makes it easier to think about the positive

aspects of your life.

*stop striving for perfection. Many of us are often so

focused on buying the perfect gifts, or making the

perfect holiday meal that we don’t enjoy the

season.

*ask for help or find shortcuts. For example, ask each

family member to bring a different dish for the holiday

feast or if you don’t have time to bake your special

cookies for the office potluck – buy them. No one will

mind. We can all take time to appreciate the

decorations, hear the music, savour the food, and

enjoy the festivities.

*don’t overextend financially. A big stressor over the

holidays comes from overspending. Keep within your

financial means during the holidays and afterwards.

Always remember it’s the thought that counts, and

not the value of the gifts you may give.

*remember what’s important. It’s easy to get swept

up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and forget

what the season is all about – spending time with

family and friends, helping the less fortunate and, for

many, celebrating their faith. Keep what’s most

important to you front and centre.

When you stay mindful of the many wonderful

things the season offers, you’ll experience less

stress. If, despite your best efforts, you’re

having trouble coping or are feeling

persistently sad or anxious, talk to your doctor

or contact your Employee and Family Assistance Program.

All SHR Staff Welcome!

“Open the Door to Possibilities!”

Keynote with Shelley Keyes

What would it take to have a better

workplace?

Shelley will lead us in some fresh thinking

to open the door to possibilities in creating

healthier, vibrant workplaces that we all

want and deserve.

Thursday, October 9 12 – 1 PM

Rependa Auditorium, SCH Telehealth Available

Register through the Training Registration System

For more information contact Donna at 655-6228

Source: MF_V_EN_13 © 2013 Homewood Human Solutions

For more about mindfulness practice, check out Homewood’s latest edition

of Life Lines newsletter on the SHR Infonet: Learning to be Mindful.

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

What is Mindfulness? There are many definitions of mindfulness. Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn,

professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts

Medical School, developed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

(MBSR). He defines mindfulness as "paying attention in a

particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-

judgmentally."

Psychology Today defines it as “a state of active, open attention

on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts

and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad.

Mindfulness means living in the moment.”

Mindfulness is the opposite of multitasking – which is what the

holiday season is about for many of us. If the holiday season is

hectic, we are usually so wrapped up thinking about the tasks we

have left to do and rushing to complete everything that before

we know it, the holidays have passed us by and we’re left tired

and frustrated.

If you are feeling overwhelmed

by the thought of the upcoming

holiday stress, consider taking

some time to complete one of

Homewood Human Solutions e-

courses, including Taking Control

of Stress, and Resilience.

For extra support or additional

coping advice, contact SHR’s

confidential Employee and

Family Assistance Provider

(EFAP), Homewood Human

Solutions:

Phone: 1-800-663-1142

Website:

https://www.homewoodhum

ansolutions.com/

“Only that day dawns to

which we are awake.”

- Thoreau

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

Slips/Trips/Falls continue to be in the top incidences for SHR and

with the winter months we would like to remind us all to be alert

and mindful of our surroundings to keep ourselves safe!

As you are aware, slips/trips/falls are most often due to

environmental factors like slips on ice, wet surfaces, etc.;

however, increasing our core strength can reduce the risk. The

research supports that core strengthening programs result in

participants having increased core strength and balance

(Sandrey & Mitzel, 2013).

As a support for staff, Managers, Business Wall Owners, etc., the

“Getting Active at Work: Core Strength Exercises” resource

package was created to help reduce staff’s risk of slips/trips/falls.

The resource package contains:

Intro/rationale sheet

Pre & Post Tests for 1) Balance and 2) Physical Activity

Core Strengthening Exercises Sheet

Poster

Additional resource information

You can use the pieces together or individually as fits your

purpose.

Share this with your staff & colleagues ~ at wall walks, huddles,

staff meetings, in new staff materials and elsewhere where it fits

for your team! …a healthy workplace and in motion initiative on behalf of the SHR and the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing.

Staying Healthy & Safe this Winter

Wintering well…

Winter is a wonderful time of the year – it

also brings winter driving, endless snow

shovelling, winter sport injuries, chapped

and dry skin, colds and flus and plenty of

darkness… Is the thought of black ice

and white snow giving you the blues? It

needn’t be. Being prepared and a little

creative can make winter an enjoyable

and safe time of the year. Check out

these resources online:

Feeling the effects of less light? Pat

Katz provides some ideas to “brighten

things up.”

Browse Wintertime Health & Safety

articles under Health Features in the

Health & Wellness section of our

benefits provider, Great West Life.

The Winter Blues? Learn more about

Seasonal Affective Disorder from the

Canadian Mental Health Association

SHR’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), Homewood Human Solutions, is pleased to offer a new mobile

device application called e-AP. The application features information on a variety of topics encompassing work, health

and wellness. e-AP allows you to gain valuable information through video streaming, podcasts, articles from experts and

self-assessments. e-AP is available for free and is compatible with iPhone (3G, 4, 4S, 5), iPod Touch (3rd and 4th

generation); iPad (OS 4, 5 and 6); Android (OS 2.2 or higher). You can find e-AP on iTunes or Google Play (formerly the

Android marketplace). Install it today and have access to an abundance of helpful information at your fingertips. From

topics like relaxation and reducing tension, visualization, caregiving and work-life balance, building self-confidence,

working after retirement, anger management, addiction, nutrition, or legal and financial issues, it has never been easier to

access wellness resources on the go and at a place and time that is convenient for your busy schedule.

For more information on e-AP and Homewood Human Solutions please visit Homewood Human Solutions.

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

Two Minute

Prescription for

Happiness

Happiness expert Shawn

Achor, says that “you are not

just your genes and your

environment….Happiness can

be a choice. But it’s a choice

that we can influence

through our organizations.”

Shawn’s prescription? Take

two minutes each day to

express your gratitude. For

example:

Write down three new

things for which you’re

grateful, or

Spend two minutes each

day praising or thanking a

person you know, and

Commit to doing it for 21

days.

Shawn continues: “You get

these great emails back [and]

21 days later you realize you

have incredibly deep social

connections … which are

predictive of happiness in

organizations as well as how

long you will live.”

Source: re:Work Conference 2014

Dr. Anita Chakravarti will be present at some of the sessions in the 8-week Course. There is a fee for

this course. For more information, a fee schedule and to register, contact Jeanne at 306-653-2325 or

jeannecorrigal@sasktel.net. The poster is available on the Healthy Workplace Infonet page.

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Quarterly Update Winter 2014

Visit the Healthy Workplace Infonet page for a full listing

of all health and wellness resources and services

available to you as an SHR employee.

This is also the home of the Virtual Health Fair – check out

the health and wellness app section today!

http://infonet.sktnhr.ca/healthyworkplace/Pages/Welcome.aspx

…be your Healthiest You

In motion News

As part of the in motion Healthy Workplace Evaluation

(HWE) free learning sessions were offered at each of the

six (6) participating worksites. All individuals who

participated in the first part of the HWE were invited to

attend one of the Healthy Workplace Learning Sessions.

Each Learning Session was facilitated by a qualified

coach who worked with participants to identify

challenges that hinder/stop participation in healthy

behaviours as well as identify what is working and other

solutions to overcome the challenges.

Multiple holistic actions were identified to help promote a

healthy workplace culture within SHR. The summary of

participant feedback from the Learning Sessions

suggested that supporting champions throughout SHR

who are helping to transform the workplace experience

by coordinating and conducting training sessions and

advocating for healthy workspaces is one way to start.

Click here to read some of the other ideas your

colleagues came up with during the Learning Sessions to

promote a healthy workplace.

Contact Cora Janzen to learn more about supporting

physical activity in the workplace and/or discuss the SHR

in motion Champions.

cora.janzen@saskatoonhealthregion.ca; (306) 655-4696

EFAP

Indoor playground

Massage therapy

Fitness centres

Wellness classes

Active

transportation

options

Professional

development

opportunities

More!

Virtual Health Fair

The SHR Virtual Health fair includes over 30 different

screenings, tools and resources to help you assess

your current status and make improvements towards a

healthier self.

Resources are updated continually. Visit today and

come back often.

And…. it is absolutely FREE!

Questions?

Contact Donna at 655-6228

Go to Departments > Healthy Workplace > Virtual Health Fair

Quarterly Update Summer 2014

WE WANT YOU! Are you enthusiastic?

Do you enjoy connecting with colleagues?

Are you a positive role model?

Do you want to be part of creating a Better Place to

Work?

Why not become a Healthy

Workplace Champion?

Join the Network! We are looking for champions in all areas of Saskatoon Health

Region. For more information and to register, visit us on the Infonet

or contact Donna or Mimi.

This is a big place which makes

communication and connection

two very large challenges.

Champions are a key part of

reaching people where they are

and helping to keep us all in the

loop! The commitment is small, the

rewards are big.

Healthiest You Update is published quarterly.

If you would like help planning for a healthier workplace in your area, contact:

Donna Chalifoux, Healthy Workplace Consultant, donna.chalifoux@saskatoonhealthregion.ca

Mimi Lodoen, Healthy Workplace Educator, mimi.lodoen@saskatoonhealthregion.ca