Wellness Policy

The District Health Director encourages all employees to engage in regular wellness activities and to make lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being. The use of wellness breaks during the workday is authorized to support this philosophy and assist employees in meeting their wellness goals. 

Supervisors are responsible for coordinating schedules to ensure that each employee is treated fairly, that breaks are granted consistently, and that service delivery is not interrupted or compromised. 

Guidelines for use of wellness breaks include:

• A maximum of 30 minutes in a given workday may be used to engage in wellness activities, generally in the form of two 15-minute breaks or one 30-minute break.

• Wellness breaks cannot be taken in addition to other breaks.

• Employees will sign out for wellness breaks as appropriate to the work site

• With sufficient justification and accountability, supervisors may allow staff to combine wellness breaks with lunch breaks or to use wellness break time at the beginning or end of the workday.

• 30 minute wellness breaks may be used for physical activities including but not limited to:

Walking or jogging
Swimming
Workout at gym
Yoga
Mall walking prior to the mall’s opening hours

• 30 minute wellness breaks may also be used for:

Counseling, educational training, and support functions for behavioral modification (i.e. tobacco and other addictions)
Expressing breast milk by breastfeeding mothers

• Other activities to improve emotional/mental health must be conducted during the regular 15-minute breaks.  Examples include meditation, resting, reading, sitting outside, etc.

• Staff are encouraged to take advantage of gym memberships, walking tracks, and other off site activities for wellness break activities.

• Employees who choose to participate in wellness breaks must realize that:

• Wellness breaks are a privilege that may be revoked if abused.

• Scheduling and service delivery take precedence over wellness breaks.

• Wellness activities are subject to approval and may not be granted due to public perception.  Examples of activities that are not considered acceptable due to public perception include, but are not limited to: walking in the mall during shopping hours, manicures, pedicures, massages, doing household chores, and tanning.

• Meals cannot be eaten during work time, either before or after wellness and/or lunch breaks.

• Employees taking wellness breaks are encouraged to enter their HOH data into the data base.

The District Wellness Committee will evaluate and consider other options for wellness activities at the supervisor’s request.