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Worklife Wellness Advisory Council

The Governor's Office created this council by executive order in 2003 to assist and advise the governor and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) on worklife wellness issues in Montana.

Health care costs related to chronic diseases are putting an increasing burden on employees, employers, and insurance providers. Employee health and wellness programs have proved to be effective not only in reducing medical costs, but also in increasing productivity and job performance, decreasing disability days, lowering absenteeism and turnover, and boosting morale.

Statewide assessments conducted by the DPHHS Cardiovascular Health Program have indicated that many employers support healthier lifestyles for their employees. The Worklife Wellness Advisory Council hopes to increase the number of employers who provide programs, policies, and environments that promote healthier lifestyles. It also hopes to decrease the barriers faced in offering comprehensive worksite wellness programs.

The work setting is an efficient and cost-effective outlet for health promotion delivery, including health promotion efforts directed at managing cardiovascular disease risk factors. The Council on Worklife Wellness recommends these strategies to raise the awareness of, and engage, Montana employers in, promoting health in the workforce:

  • Provide programmatic resources to employers to use in facilitating positive behavior change among employees;
  • Recognize and support employers who offer benefits, policies, programs, and environmental conditions that encourage employees to make healthy choices;
  • Conduct ongoing statewide assessments of the status of employers engaging in employee wellness efforts; and
  • Work with insurance providers, employer groups, and associations to adopt policies that will encourage health behaviors.

For more information about the council, visit the Cardiovascular Health Program Web site or contact Chelsea Fagen, Cardiovascular Health Program, at 406-444-4105 or cfagen@mt.gov.

Page last updated: 07/09/2007