Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice at Work

Where we work has a huge impact on our health. Our environment shapes the many choices we make and can either support or hinder our efforts to be well. Commonwealth employees spend a significant part of their day at work and while there, make choices about what they eat and drink, and about physical activity. As such, having healthy food and activity options are very important in supporting healthy behaviors.

The Office of Workforce Engagement and CommonHealth invite you to join us in making the healthy choice the easy choice. By including healthy options for eating and activity in all things –such as meetings, events, and celebrations –ultimately making the healthy choice the norm –you increase access, support employee health and create a culture of health.

Try the following simple ideas to help your workplace develop a culture that supports employee health and safety.

Healthy Meetings at Work Made Easy

Try walking meetings when possible

Provide a brief stretch break when a meeting will last 1-2 hours 

Provide an optional 5-10 minute activity break when a meeting will last 2-4 hours

Allow time for a 30 minute (voluntary) activity break for meetings over 4 hours

Encourage those who would like to stand for all or part of a meeting

Provide healthy food and beverage options at meetings

Consider not providing refreshments at mid-morning or midafternoon meetings

Emphasize fruits and vegetables when serving food

Have water available

Other Ways to Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

Encourage use of the stairs when practical

Award healthy parking spaces at the far end of the parking lot to encourage more activity

Encourage participation in activity challenges -join CommonHealth challenges or start your own, form teams

Recognize individual and group achievements – celebrate success