Health Links (HL): What does being a healthy business mean to your organization? How does it reflect the company's values and business goals?

Town of Dillon (TOD): Being a healthy business means incorporating healthy living, healthy community, and healthy eating to all aspects of our employee’s lives. The Town of Dillon appreciates its employees and has incorporated a number of programs to support staff mentally, physically, and financially. Dillon feels that a healthy employee is a productive employee which is why many of our wellness programs are so successful!  

HL: How has Health Links helped the Town of Dillon build a culture of health and safety?

TOD: Health Links helped the Town of Dillon look beyond currently offered programs. We have enhanced our Wellness Program by offering a variety of activities allowing both active and less active employees the opportunity to participate. By surveying our employees, we are now offering programs that they want to participate in, which has built comradery within and across departments. These relationships naturally foster goodwill amongst employees where they look out for each other, offer assistance, and generally enjoy working together. This program has also reduced the number of recorded sick days.

HL: What changes have you seen among your employees, their families, and the surrounding community as a result of your program(s)?

TOD: Communication between departments has increased as a result of our quarterly wellness programs, safety meetings, and driving/seatbelt evaluation programs. Participation outside of work hours has allowed employees to get to know each other on a more personal level. These relationships have bridged back to the workplace allowing departments to speak and work more freely. Our wellness programs include families which also enhances relationships amongst employees–enhancing more personal relationships by getting to know each other’s outside interests and hobbies.

HL: Does your health and safety program give back to your community?

TOD: YES! Our community garden will be fully functioning in the spring of 2018. Town employees have agreed to adopt two garden beds with 100% of harvest being donated to the Family and Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) benefitting needy families in Summit County. Nutrition and informational classes held at the community garden will be open to the public in an effort to educate our citizens about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.

HL: What tip/advice would you give to a business that is considering starting a workplace health and safety program?

TOD: DO IT! The camaraderie amongst departments is invaluable. Include everyone on staff–seasonal and part-time staff and their families. The better your employees know each other, the better they function as a team. We have seen bountiful results from our programs!