Promoting Employee Wellbeing Through Well Office Certification

Creating a culture of wellness has become a priority at the University of Utah and the Division of Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH). To foster this culture, I collaborated with Rosie, the academic manager, to obtain Well Office Certification for OEH's clinical spaces at the South Jordan Health Center and Redwood Health Center, as well as their administrative office at the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH). The process involved touring each location, assessing existing wellness practices, and implementing new initiatives from the certification checklist. Customized Wellness Guide Handbooks were created, highlighting resources like active transportation options, lactation rooms, wellness rooms, and a food pantry. A Movement and Breathing Handbook was developed to reduce stress. Promotional flyers were designed to advertise wellness activities, including a gratitude initiative leveraging the University's Pulse website. Through these efforts, the OEH clinical areas at South Jordan and Redwood Health Centers achieved bronze Well Office Certification, while the RMCOEH administrative team attained silver status. Additionally, I secured a Wellness Seed Grant to introduce Zen Gardens at each location, further enhancing the wellness-focused environment. These initiatives demonstrate OEH's commitment to cultivating a holistic culture of well-being for its employees and patients.