Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is an active process of making choices toward a healthy and purpose filled life. Our Wellness program is rooted in fostering healthy connections, increasing education, breaking down barriers to resources, and giving support to help improve wellness.

 

Employee Wellness

The CDC says that 36.4 billion dollars are lost each year from employee absences due to complications related to obesity, chronic illness, and physical inactivity. Gateway understands that many providers have also experienced their own trauma or hardships which have made them more vulnerable to these poor health outcomes as an adult. Therefore, Gateway utilizes and encourages policy, people, and practices to create a culture of wellness at work that can serve as a place of health and healing for passionate employees.

Read about the 7 Best Reasons to Have a Wellness Program from Dr. Steve Aldana, the CEO of Wellsteps, a worksite wellness solution that leads the nation in wellness program deployment and engagement.

Employee Wellness Policy

Gateway’s Wellness Policy was first developed in 2017 by our TSET Healthy Living Program team members, in collaboration with administrative personnel and feedback from employees at each site. Our policy serves as a best practices guide for employees in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco cessation while at work. It is the foundational piece to defining and sustaining Gateway’s culture of Wellness. Gateway’s Wellness Team utilizes this policy as a guide when providing snacks, implementing wellness challenges, and offering education and support to our staff. 

Employee Wellness Team

Gateway’s Employee Wellness Team, made up of staff across our departments and locations, works together to develop and implement objectives, based on the 8 Dimensions of Wellness, that best support the health and wellness of our employees.

Employee Wellness Perks

  • Two paid 15 minute Wellness Breaks each day to improve physical wellness.
  • Gym reimbursement up to $30 and/or YMCA partnership for attending eight times a month.
  • Two free counseling sessions per year for self or family members at the provider of choice.
  • Opportunity to contribute an article to Gateway’s column in the Shawnee Outlook.
  • The Gateway Staff Wellness Group is a private Facebook group made up of Gateway personnel that promote wellness-related motivation, support, education, and resources. 
  • Wellness Wednesdays: Messages are texted to staff weekly for the purpose of supporting their mental and emotional wellness and linking  them to relevant resources. This check-in also serves as an open door for employees to communicate recent triumphs or challenges and receive additional feedback and support from the Wellness Director.
  • Wellness Challenges: Creates awareness, excitement, support, and intentionality around specific dimensions of wellness. These are designed to be inclusive of all staff and celebrate any and all efforts made.
  • The Wellness Wagon: Helps make the healthy choice the easy choice by Wellness Team members purchasing and delivering nutritious and delicious snacks to each site on a regular basis throughout the year.
If your organization needs assistance crafting your own Wellness Policy, please connect with our TSET Healthy Living Program Coordinator, Holly Gordon at hgordon@gatewaytoprevention.org.