For organizations and individuals interested in participating in Canada's Healthy Workplace Week 2007, this page will provide you with a selection of ideas and activities that can be adapted to fit your needs.

The Activities are separated into 3 sections:

• Activities to Enhance your Personal Well-being
• Activities to Support Managers
• Activities for Organizations to Implement

Each of the activities have been provided by consultants who practice in the field of organizational health and wellness.

Workplace Stretch Breaks... Back by Popular Demand

These activities are designed for individuals to use on their own to develop their own health and well-being.

Intermediaries and Program Coordinators – feel free to incorporate this information into your company materials (i.e. intranet, company newsletter) and make it available for employees.

For individuals, use the personal planner [PDF] as your own guide for ideas and activities to participate in the week.

Activity 1: Change the World 9:00 – 5:00 (HTML) (PDF).

Most of us spend our waking lives – working. This activity is about what we can do through our work to change the world. It's all based on the very simple formula:

Small changes x lots of people = BIG change

So – imagine, believe and begin. Try one or all of the actions to not only change your own world at work, but also help change the world while you work!

Provided by: the book "Change the World 9-5" published by an organization called We Are What We Do (www.wearewhatwedo.org)

Activity 2: The Business of Kindness: creating work environments where people thrive

Planting the seeds of kindness in business is a proactive approach that is aimed at enhancing the health and sustainability of the people within our organizations. We need to find unique ways to counteract the increasing and often subtle forms of stress, disengagement and even potential violence.

During Canada's Healthy Workplace Week, consider providing support for a kinder workplace in all or one of these three key themes of Kindness. There is one activity provided (in PDF) for each the themes.

Provided by: Olivia McIvor, McIvor & Company (www.inspirationalhr.com)

The following activities are designed to assist managers and team leaders in building healthier work teams and achieving healthy outcomes.

Intermediaries and Program Coordinators – feel free to circulate these activities to your departmental managers and team leaders and encourage them try these out with their teams!

Activity 3: Working with depression: Tips for employers and employees

Did you know?

• Depression is the leading cause of disability among people in Canada and the U.S. aged 15-44 years – it is the leading cause of disability days lived (in part because, unlike other disabling conditions, it often strikes individuals in their late teens or early adulthood)
• The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that it will be the second-leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. In many organizations or employment sectors it is the leading cause.
• Three-quarters of all mental health issues in the workplace are related to depression.
• In a recent Ipsos Reid survey, 84% of North Americans said that organizational CEOs should make helping depressed employees a key human resources priority.
• Depression has been called an "invisible disorder" and comes with considerable stigma that hampers those suffering from seeking help and those around them from understanding and providing meaningful support.
• This issue is not going away.

Whether you are an individual who is experiencing low mood or depression, or a worker who is concerned about a colleague, friend or family member, or are a manager/leader who is concerned about an individual or group of employees, you can make a difference. In this activity, learn about depression, gain valuable tips on how you and your colleagues/ employees can create a mentally supportive workplace, and find out more about a new online self-care resource for employees coping with depression.

Provided by: Merv Gilbert PhD, Gilbert Acton Ltd (www.gilbertacton.com)

Activity 4: Leadership Enhancing Books (PDF)

Even leaders need to be inspired! Here is a list of books that will allow you to gain thoughtful insights on the art of leadership and unleash your team's potential to perform! An updated list for Spring 2007 will be available in May.

Provided by: Books for Business (www.booksforbusiness.com)

The following activities are designed to be implemented organization-wide.

Check out this sample organizational planner (coming soon!) for some guidance in planning timelines and activities for CHWW in your organization!

Activity 5: Thrive in 5 Workplace Challenge

Come away feeling alive by implementing the Thrive in 5 Workplace Challenge This one week challenge is an opportunity for your organization to support employees in leading a well-balanced lifestyle.

Over the years, there have been a number of activities that we've received some great feedback on, and many requests to re-post. The Workplace Stretch Breaks from 2004 is one of them. Therefore, we thought we'd highlight this activity for you to add to your selection of ideas to choose from, when deciding how to participate in Canada's Healthy Workplace Week 2007.

• Workplace Stretch Breaks (Organizational Activity, 2004) (PDF)

The human body is not designed to stay in one position all day long - but many of us sit or stand at work for extended periods of time. Canada's Healthy Workplace Week is an opportune time to change this! Download and post these stretch-break ideas in your workplace, or use them yourself at your workstation.