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Home > Manager's Toolkit

Promoting a Healthy Workplace

These tips represent ideas from UPlan Wellness to create a healthier work environment. Additional recommendations from employees and supervisory staff are welcome. Send tips to well@umn.edu. Feel free to print, post, and distribute this information.

  • Encourage employees to move more! Provide support to staff to use scheduled breaks or lunchtime to walk or be physically active, rest, or get sunshine or fresh air.

  • Suggest a “walking meeting” when meeting one-on-one with a staff member or small employee workgroup.

  • Use staff meetings and other regular communication venues, such as bulletin boards and newsletters, to promote ways to improve employee health, safety, and fitness.

  • Workday activities can require repetitive motion that may lead to discomfort and injury. Learn more at Environmental Health & Safety's Ergonomic Resources about what can be done to relieve symptoms and avoid serious injury; find out how to get a workstation evaluation from a University ergonomic expert and then talk within your workgroup about available resources to remediate the issues.

  • Employees who work on a computer should give hands and wrists a quick break every 30 minutes.

  • Ensure that healthy food and beverage choices are available for meetings and catered events; read more at University of Minnesota Extension's Healthy Food Options at Meetings.

  • Foster a culture of wellness within the University community; share your enthusiasm for creating a comprehensive employee wellness program and for the Health Connections initiative from UPlan Wellness.

  • Model healthful behaviors. Leadership is the key to an effective worksite wellness program.