Provincial Employees Contribute to Groundbreaking Study

The results are in and the message is clear -- investing in workplace health is smart business.

The province of Nova Scotia and Creative Wellness Solutions announced the results of the four-year Healthy LifeWorks project today, Nov. 14.

In 2004, the Healthy LifeWorks project, the first Canadian study to address the business case for workplace, was implemented to improve the health of Nova Scotians and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

More than 400 employees from the Department of Justice participated in the study, which measured individual health, musculoskeletal health and organizational health.

"Nova Scotia is a leader in supporting healthy workplaces," said Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission. "Provincial government employees have benefited in terms of their health, and they have contributed to a study with important implications for all Canadians."

The Healthy LifeWorks project showed significant improvements to employee health including:

• a 19 per cent improvement in nutrition scores, determined by combining low saturated fat meals, high-fiber foods, fast food and snacks, daily breakfast, and fruit and vegetable intake scores

• a seven per cent improvement in fitness scores, which included scores based on the frequency of weekly aerobics, and strength and stretching activity

• a nine per cent reduction in the average number of lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and cholesterol level

"The overall wellness score of department staff increased by 12 per cent over the course of the study," said Justice Minister Cecil Clarke. "These results demonstrate the significant benefits of a comprehensive approach to workplace health."

The project also showed an improvement in staff morale with more employees reporting that they felt good about the opportunities to learn and grow within their work environments.

"We are extremely pleased by the results of the study," said Dr. Lydia Makrides, president and CEO of Creative Wellness Solutions. "The results clearly demonstrate that comprehensive wellness programs benefit employees and the organizations they work for."

The Healthy LifeWorks study was conducted by the Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, the research affiliate of Creative Wellness Solutions, in partnership with the Department of Justice and the Public Service Commission. Study sponsors also included Pfizer Canada Inc., AstraZeneca Canada Inc., and Sun Life Financial.