Policy 101
|
||
For the purposes of this Web site, policies shall be interpreted in a broad manner, and shall include laws, regulations, and rules, both formal and informal, that are adopted on a collective basis to guide individual and collective behavior.
- Policies can be voluntary or legally binding. These can include, but are not limited to
- Formal, written laws and policies, such as federal authorizing and appropriations law or a specific smoking ban
- Informal, such as “casual Fridays,” where such a rule doesn’t exist formally, but is collectively assumed that employees may wear jeans to work
- Policies can have substantial impact on workforce health promotion (WHP) because they set boundaries around which wellness practices can be implemented.
Healthier Worksite Initiative (HWI) strives to make CDC a place where
“healthy choices are easy choices,” including developing workplace policies
that are consistent with wellness goals. Employer policies are important
to the planning and implementation of WHP programs
for two basic reasons: 1.) WHP programs need to comply with them, and
2.) WHP programs can advocate for modification of
existing policies, or enactment of new policies, that strengthen and
support employee health promotion goals.
This information is being shared because it may be useful to those
planning WHP programs in federal or other settings
in the following ways:
- WHP program planners should be aware of the policies and regulations that they must operate under. If some policies present barriers to workplace health promotion goals, program planners should consider advocating for policy revisions.
- Federal workplaces – Those planning WHP programs at other federal workplaces can reference appropriate policies to guide and support development of a new employee health promotion program or strengthen an existing program.
- Other workplaces – Those planning WHP programs at non-federal governmental agencies or private companies might use the list as a guide to research their employers policies that impact program wellness development.
References
1Institute of Medicine (US). Health and Behavior: The
Interplay of Biological, Behavioral, and Societal Influences. Washington,
DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
2McLeroy, KR, Bibeau, D, Steckler, A, Glanz, K. An Ecological
Perspective on Health Promotion Programs. Health Education Quarterly
1988;15(4):351–377.
3Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2003 average hours worked per day by
employed persons at workplace or home by selected characteristics. United
States Department of Labor. Available from URL:
http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/atus.t05.htm.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
