www.wsps.ca Open in urlscan Pro
20.48.139.218  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

https://www.wsps.ca/resource-hub/search

<form id="uf-search-form" class="uf-search-form" role="search" aria-label="Sitewide" action="https://www.wsps.ca/resource-hub/search">
  <input type="search" name="ufq" id="uf-search-input" class="uf-search-input uf-input" placeholder="Type a keyword here" aria-label="Type a keyword here">
  <input type="hidden" name="ufs" value="7437907">
  <button type="submit" id="uf-search-submit" class="uf-search-submit" title="Search sitewide">
    <i class="fas fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i>
    <span class="sr-only">Search sitewide</span>
  </button>
  <button type="button" id="uf-search-close" class="uf-search-close" title="Close Search Box">
    <i class="fas fa-times" aria-hidden="true"></i>
    <span class="sr-only">Close search box</span>
  </button>
</form>

Text Content

Press Alt+1 for screen-reader mode, Alt+0 to cancelAccessibility Screen-Reader
Guide, Feedback, and Issue Reporting

About Us Get Involved Contact Us
Login / Register Shop
Shop
toggle menu
Login / Register Shop
About Us Get Involved Contact Us
 * How We
   Help
   How We Help
   How We Help Training & Certifications Consulting Small Business Centre
   Agriculture & Horticulture Safety Centre WSIB Health & Safety Excellence
   program Awareness Sessions
 * Health & Safety:
   Resources & Tools
   Health & Safety:
   Resources & Tools
   Health & Safety: Resources & Tools The Business Case for Safety Workplace
   Hazards Health & Safety Topics Sector-Specific Health & Safety Research
   Resource Hub
 * Your Roles &
   Responsibilities
   Your Roles &
   Responsibilities
   Your Roles & Responsibilities Understanding the Legislation Developing a H&S
   Policy & Program Investigating Complaints Inspections & Investigations
   Frequently Asked Questions
 * Training &
   Events
   Training & Events
   Training & Events JHSC Certification Events & PIP Conferences Free Safety
   Connections Workplace Mental Health Workplace Hazards COVID-19 in the
   Workplace Federally Regulated Workplaces More Categories
 * News &
   Updates
   News & Updates
   News & Updates Email Subscription Centre Announcements Articles Sign Up for
   Email Newsletter Course Cancellations



Skip to main content
Toggle menubar

Welcome to WSPS Resource Hub

 * Resource Home
 * Toggle submenu for: Role
   * Employer or Senior Leader
   * Health & Safety Committee Member or Representative
   * HR / Health & Safety Professional
   * Worker
 * Toggle submenu for: Topic
   * COVID-19 - Emergency Preparedness & Response
   * Ergonomics & MSDs
   * Federal / Canada Labour Code
   * Inspections & Investigations
   * Machine Safety & Robotics
   * Material Handling
   * Mental Health & Employee Wellbeing
   * Occupational Hygiene
   * Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
   * Small Businesses
   * Vulnerable Workers
   * Warehouse Ergonomics
   * Warehouse Safety & Racking
   * Winter Safety
   * Working at Heights
 * Toggle submenu for: Hazard
   * Chemicals, Hazardous Materials & WHMIS
   * Impairment / Cannabis
   * Machinery & Tools
   * Motor Vehicles & Powered Mobile
   * Slips, Trips & Falls
   * Violence & Harassment
   * Other (Heat Stress, Electrical, Noise, etc.)
 * Toggle submenu for: Industry
   * Agriculture & Horticulture
   * Food & Beverage Manufacturing
   * Fruit & Vegetable Farmers
   * Greenhouse Growers
   * Manufacturing
   * Services (retail, restaurants, offices, etc.)
 * Toggle submenu for: Language
   * French
   * Spanish
   * Thai
 * Toggle submenu for: Content Type
   * Articles
   * Case Studies
   * Checklists, Forms & Templates
   * Corporate & Brochures
   * Guides & Toolkits
   * Job Aids
   * Legislation Updates
   * Podcasts
   * Posters & Infographics
   * Pre-recorded Webinars
   * Safety Checks for Workers
   * Trusted Leader Blog
   * Videos - Workplace Safety & Leadership
   * Videos - Workplace Safety Tips
   * Videos - WSPS Client & Staff Stories

Open search box
Search sitewide Close search box
Share this Post


SHARE THIS POST

 * Share on facebook
 * Share on twitter
 * Share on linkedin
 * Share on email


SEARCH WSPS.CA

Clear

Search WSPS.CA


View search results by categories and industry

Categories

Lorem Ipsum Training Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum Legislation Lorem Ipsum

Industry

Lorem Ipsum Construction Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum
 1. Home
 2. Articles
 3. What do we really mean when we talk about workplace wellness?


WHAT DO WE REALLY MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKPLACE WELLNESS?

Published Date October 27, 2023 Author Jessica Bowes



When someone mentions workplace wellness, does it conjure images of a spa-like
office where employees have healthy lunch options at their fingertips and take
yoga breaks throughout the day? While these sound like great perks, they are not
what health and safety professionals are referring to when they talk about
workplace wellness. “Workplace wellness goes far beyond fruit bowls in the
lunchroom and gym membership programs,” says Meron Samuel, WSPS Health and
Safety Consultant. Meron explains that workplace wellness is about creating an
environment that supports physical and psychological health and safety while
ensuring employees understand their value. With October being Healthy Workplace
Month, it’s a good time for employers to focus more attention on wellness.

“Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits daily to attain better
physical and mental health outcomes,” says Meron. “Having a gym onsite that
makes it easier for employees to fit in a daily workout may promote physical
activity, but if employees are experiencing chronic anxiety due to the way work
is managed, getting that workout in isn’t going to address the mental harm
caused by unreasonable workloads.” Meron emphasizes that if employers are
serious about workplace wellness, they need to focus on removing or reducing the
physical and psychosocial hazards in the workplace before looking at initiatives
such as gym memberships or yoga classes.


INVESTING IN WORKPLACE WELLNESS

If your organization isn’t already investing in workplace wellness, it’s time to
start. “Ignoring workplace wellness can negatively impact your business,” says
Meron. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 500,000
Canadians missed work in 2020 due to a mental health issue. By 2041, CAMH
estimates that poor mental health will have cost our economy more than $2.5
trillion. Take action now to drive positive outcomes for your organization.

“A good starting point is to find out what employees are experiencing at work.
Ask them what is working and what changes can be made to improve their work and
working environment,” says Meron. She suggests starting with a survey tool to
effectively assess psychosocial factors that may be causing mental harm. Here
are five factors to consider. 

 1. Recognition and reward—Look at how achievements are recognized and if
    employees feel that their compensation is fair and equitable.
 2. Work demands—Find out if employees have a reasonable workload and adequate
    resources to complete their responsibilities. An unreasonable workload may
    lead to unmanageable stress and anxiety.
 3. Civility and respect—Ensure your workplace handles conflict effectively and
    is a place where everyone is treated fairly. “If bullying is a problem in
    your workplace, it needs to be addressed,” says Meron.
 4. Clear leadership and expectations—It’s important for employees to understand
    exactly what they need to do, how they are expected to do it and to have
    time to adjust when expectations change.
 5. Involvement and influence—Give employees control over how they do their work
    and opportunities to be involved in the decision-making process. 

“You need to consult your employees regularly to understand how healthy your
workplace is,” explains Meron. As with all aspects of health and safety,
employers need to evaluate workplace wellness initiatives on an ongoing basis
because things change over time. “Continue to gather data and feedback so that
you have an understanding of employees’ perceptions and experiences,” says
Meron. Doing so will allow you to address workplace wellness in a meaningful way
and will help you create a truly healthy workplace.


HOW WSPS CAN HELP

Resources

 * Check out Guarding Minds @ Work, a free survey tool to help organizations
   effectively assess and address psychosocial factors.
 * Visit the Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap site to create and implement a
   psychological health and safety strategy at your workplace.
 * Why encouraging vacation increases productivity and job satisfaction
   (article)
 * Do your managers know how to create a psychologically safe workplace?
   (article)
 * Small Biz Safety Podcast - Episode 31: How prioritizing workplace culture
   pays!

Consulting

Connect with a WSPS workplace mental health expert for help developing your
workplace wellness programs.

Training

 * Psychological Health and Safety Awareness (eCourse, 20 minutes)
 * Psychological Health and Safety for Workers (eCourse, 1 hour)
 * Leading for Psychological Safety in Challenging Times (in-person, 1 day)
 * Workplace Mental Health: How Managers Should Respond (in-person, ½ day)
 * Workplace Mental Health: What Health and Safety Committees Should Know
   (in-person, 1 day)
 * Reducing Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace (eCourse, 30 minutes)

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.

 * Previous Article
   
   Restaurants: keep your business recovery on track with this safety tip
   
   WSPS Consultant Tova Larsen demonstrates how restaurant managers, workers,
   and owners can work together to prevent injuries, fines and WSIB costs.

 * Next Article
   
   9 workplace tips for a safe and healthy fall season
   
   Seasonal changes are just around the corner. Is your workplace ready? Find
   out how you can protect your employees as the cooler weather approaches.


OTHER TRENDING ARTICLES

Show previous Show next
 * 5 days ago
   
   
   CASE STUDY: FIND OUT WHAT THIS FIRM DID TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
   
   Working with WSPS Consultant Norm Kramer, IPEX Canada’s Toronto plant made
   changes that greatly reduced near misses between forklifts and pedestrians.
   
   Read Article

 * 5 days ago
   
   
   $50,000 FINE SENDS MESSAGE: DON’T SKIP HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING MATERIALS
   HANDLING
   
   Find out how a seemingly straightforward task involving a pump truck and a
   liftgate led to a serious injury and conviction, and get 6 tips to protect
   your business and workers.
   
   Read Article

 * 1 day ago
   
   
   RESTAURANTS: KEEP YOUR BUSINESS RECOVERY ON TRACK WITH THIS SAFETY TIP
   
   WSPS Consultant Tova Larsen demonstrates how restaurant managers, workers,
   and owners can work together to prevent injuries, fines and WSIB costs.
   
   Read Article

 * 9 days ago
   
   
   9 WORKPLACE TIPS FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY FALL SEASON
   
   Seasonal changes are just around the corner. Is your workplace ready? Find
   out how you can protect your employees as the cooler weather approaches.
   
   Read Article

 * about 1 month ago
   
   
   NEW TEMPORARY HELP AGENCY LICENSING REQUIREMENTS ARE COMING: HOW WILL THIS
   IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS?
   
   Temporary help agencies and recruiters will soon need licenses to operate in
   Ontario. Find out what that means for employers who use their services.
   
   Read Article

 * about 1 month ago
   
   
   WORKPLACE STRESS IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH: 9 WAYS YOU CAN HELP
   
   A new survey shows employee stress is still rising. Find out why, how it
   affects your business, and what to do about it.
   
   Read Article

 * about 1 month ago
   
   
   DOES YOUR WORKPLACE HAVE HIDDEN LIFTING AND HANDLING HAZARDS? DOWNLOAD THIS
   FREE CHECKLIST
   
   High numbers of material handling injuries continue to plague workplaces in
   Ontario. Take action to identify and manage related hazards with a new free
   tool.
   
   Read Article

 * about 1 month ago
   
   
   PREVENT WORKPLACE CRUSH INJURIES WITH THESE 7 EXPERT TIPS
   
   Crush injuries can be catastrophic to a worker and the workplace. Find out
   what causes them, where they are most likely to occur, and what to do to
   reduce risks.
   
   Read Article

 * about 1 month ago
   
   
   REDUCE INJURIES AND KEEP WORKERS SAFE WITH THESE FOOD HANDLING SAFETY TIPS
   
   Learn ways to reduce workplace injuries in the meat and poultry industry with
   these safe food handling tips.
   
   Read Article

 * 2 months ago
   
   
   TRAVELLING IN RURAL AREAS THIS FALL? 10 TIPS ON SHARING THE ROAD WITH FARM
   EQUIPMENT
   
   If you're travelling through rural areas, you may find yourself driving near
   agricultural machinery. Find out the 10 best practices to share the road with
   farm equipment and stay safe on the road.
   
   Read Article

 * 2 months ago
   
   
   8 BEST PRACTICES TO PREVENT NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS AT WORK
   
   Meet the latest tool for ensuring hearing protection fits properly, plus how
   to power up your prevention program to prevent WSIB claims.
   
   Read Article

 * 2 months ago
   
   
   CAN CHATGPT HELP YOUR WORKPLACE BUILD HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES?
   
   Can this widely popular AI chatbot produce accurate and trustworthy health
   and safety information? WSPS Safety Consultant Kristin Onorato decided to
   find out.
   
   Read Article

 * 2 months ago
   
   
   HOW WELL IS YOUR WORKPLACE MANAGING THE RISKS OF SHIFT WORK? 6 THINGS
   EMPLOYERS CAN DO
   
   Shift work comes with health risks—both physical and psychological. Dr.
   Sandra Dorman with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety at
   Laurentian University talks about what employers can do to
   
   Read Article

 * 15 days ago
   
   
   5 TIPS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NEW CANADIANS
   
   Is your organization helping newcomers adjust to working in Ontario? Or are
   you making it more difficult? Find out what you can do to remove barriers and
   facilitate the transition.
   
   Read Article

 * 2 months ago
   
   
   HOW TO ELIMINATE 3 HIDDEN CAUSES OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSDS)
   
   WSPS Consultant Norm Kramer sheds light on MSD risk factors that may not be
   obvious but could lead to costly injuries.
   
   Read Article

 * 3 months ago
   
   
   6 EXPERT TIPS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AFTER A TRAUMATIC WORKPLACE EVENT
   
   Sometimes the unthinkable happens. When it does, organizations need to be
   ready to support employees and their mental health. Find out how to be
   prepared.
   
   Read Article

 * 3 months ago
   
   
   IS LOW RISK PERCEPTION A PROBLEM IN YOUR WORKPLACE?
   
   When people don’t fully appreciate the risks involved in a task, they are
   less likely to follow health and safety protocols. Check out these tips to
   help change that mindset.
   
   Read Article

 * 2 months ago
   
   
   PROTECT YOUR EYES ON THE JOB: TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUNGLASSES
   
   Choosing the right pair of sunglasses isn’t just about looking good. Find out
   how the sun can damage our eyes and what to do about it.
   
   Read Article

 * 3 months ago
   
   
   GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER EXPRESSION: WHAT DOES AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE LOOK
   LIKE?
   
   Employers have a legal and social responsibility to respect gender rights and
   provide a safe workplace. Discover what this looks like in action.
   
   Read Article

 * 3 months ago
   
   
   6 WAYS TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE
   
   Masks alone won’t protect all at-risk employees from the alarming health
   effects linked to wildfire smoke. Find out what else you can do.
   
   Read Article

Return to Home
© Workplace Safety And Prevention Services
Home How We Help Health & Safety: Resources & Tools Your Roles &
Responsibilities Training & Events News & Updates
Contact Us Policies Help Centre Working at WSPS

Call us: 1 877 494 WSPS (9777)

Subscribe to our newsletter to get helpful health and safety tips delivered to
your inbox.
Subscribe

Stay connected:



© Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. All Rights Reserved

Feedback