Being more active, eating healthier, and getting more quality sleep may sound like a common sense recipe for feeling better, but too often the stresses of daily life and work can cloud those good intentions.

Now, an employee health and workplace wellness group spearheaded by Employee Work-Life Support Services has set out to encourage wellness and healthy lifestyles for McMaster's 5,000 employees. The Workplace Wellness Group includes representatives from various departments throughout the University.

“We strive to provide a healthy and safe work environment,” says Wanda McKenna, manager of Employee Work-Life Support Services. “There are a number of services available that we invite employees to take advantage of.”

McMaster and other large companies across Canada are putting more attention on employee wellness, on and off the job. Throughout the year the University offers regular sessions and workshops toward health promotion techniques ranging from healthy food choices to yoga. Emotional well-being is also addressed, with Employee Health Services offering workshops tackling issues such as caring for aging parents.

This month, McMaster is tapping in to Canada's Healthy Workplace Week – a time that is being designated to increasing employee awareness of how important healthy workplaces are and what McMaster is doing to provide a healthy workplace. During the week of Oct. 20-24, McMaster employees will have free access to the Pulse and Fun Fit classes, as well as additional services such as massage, chiropractic, reflexology and physiotherapy services on offer. There will also be daily lunchtime sessions covering general fitness, ergonomics, and stress management issues. For more information about Healthy Workplace Week and the upcoming wellness sessions, visit http://workingatmcmaster.ca/life.

As another initiative focusing on work-life wellness, Andrea Husted, return-to-work specialist, has begun hosting seminars for employees in departments who regularly work non-traditional hours, or shifts outside of weekdays from nine to five.

“One quarter of Canadians work non-traditional hours,” says Husted. “Some people find it more difficult to lead a healthy life when they're working shifts, but there are some small choices that can make a big difference to how rested we feel.”

Departments interested in the seminars can book Husted for one-hour sessions where she'll offer helpful hints and provide information about sleep cycles and circadian rhythms, or the body's internal clock.

Employee Work-Life Support Services is a division of Human Resources Services and is responsible for employee benefits, disability management and return-to-work, and promoting healthy workplace initiatives. For more information, visit their Web site at
http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/jobmatters/benefits.

A list of services and workshops currently available through Employee Health Services can be found at http://www.mcmaster.ca/health/employees/ehealthhome.htm.