Promote Employee Wellness, OPM Tells Agencies

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is recommending federal agencies promote employee wellness programs, noting "the connection from wellness to employee engagement and productivity is well established," reports FEDweek . "Both employees and agencies will benefit from reinforcing the importance of healthy living and a holistic approach to well-being through a variety of inclusive programs and services," OPM stated in a memo. "Employers have a tremendous opportunity to help their employees see the value of adopting healthier behaviors." OPM cited its recent Federal Workforce Priorities report, which listed such programs among those priorities and highlighted agencies' efforts to encourage employees and their families to live healthier and boost their physical activity. "In addition, other agencies collaborate and share ideas, post them on social media and reach more employees than ever before in an effort to motivate them to move and make healthy lifestyle changes," the office noted. "Agencies partner with healthcare providers and/or vendors for onsite blood pressure and body mass index checks that provide important information and raise individual levels of awareness." OPM encouraged agencies to support those objectives by "marketing available programs and services, offering a range of events and activities, such as health fairs, cooking demonstrations, fitness challenges/walks, and webinars."