Florida Department of Health encouraging employers to increase commitment to workers’ well being

15 worksites have won Healthy Sarasota County Worksite designation

Image from the Healthy Sarasota County webpage

Because people often spend more time at work than anywhere else, and decisions and habits reinforced in a healthful worksite “can transcend into other aspects of life,” the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County works with companies “to assist their employees on their journey to health,” the department has pointed out.

“One of the best ways that employers can improve the health of their employees is by passing a tobacco free worksite policy,” a news release explains. Tobacco free worksite policies create safe, healthful worksites; can inspire smokers to quit; increase awareness of the risks of tobacco use; lower the risk of fires; prolong life and quality of office equipment; and increase employee morale by conveying that the owners and managers of the worksites care about employee health and the environment, a news release says.

The Healthy Sarasota County Worksite program designates employers who are carrying out health promotion activities, endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that are proven to improve the health and well being of their employees, the release continues. A major component of that program, which is administered through the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, is tobacco control, the release adds.

Fifteen worksites in Sarasota County have been awarded the Healthy Sarasota County Worksite designation, many of which have tobacco free worksite policies, the release points out. Those worksites are the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota; Florida Blue-Sarasota Center; The Florida Center for Early Childhood; Englewood Community Hospital; Venice Golf and Country Club; Crystal Clean Green Cleaning; St. Mark’s Preschool; Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System; Tidewell Hospice; Child Care Connection; the City of North Port; Children’s World Uniform Supply; the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County; and Fleet Feet Sports, the release says.
No-cost wellness consultations and resources are provided through the Healthy Sarasota County Worksite Initiative, the release notes. Any employer interested in winning designation as a Healthy Sarasota County Worksite or in implementing a tobacco free worksite policy may find more information and an application at www.HealthySarasota.com, the release adds.