More and more workplaces are becoming health-promoting.

Workplaces emphasise good health

45 of Hafnarfjörður's 60 workplaces have become health-promoting, including all of the municipality's primary schools. The 'Hafnarfjörður – a Health-Promoting Workplace' project was launched in May 2022. It puts the health, well-being and welfare of staff on the agenda. The implementation will conclude at the end of the summer. The Healthy Workplace project is run by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

All of Hafnarfjörður's primary schools have become health-promoting in one way or another, as have a total of 45 out of the town's 60 workplaces. Eight factors characterise health-promoting workplaces:

• Holt diet
• Management styles that support health promotion
• Staff well-being
• Working practices that promote well-being and an appropriate level of workload
• Exercise and time outdoors as appropriate.
• A safe and healthy working environment
• An alcohol-free, tobacco-free and drug-free workplace
• Environmental protection

A healthy workplace is suitable for all workplaces, regardless of size, industry or location. Each workplace can apply the Healthy Workplace criteria according to its own needs, circumstances and possibilities. The benefits for workplaces and staff of prioritising health are undeniable and are reflected in the following points when successful:

• Increased well-being at work and greater job satisfaction
• Better health
• Improved mental well-being
• Increased physical ability
• Increased dedication at work
• Improved social connections and communication at work

Each workplace chooses its own focus areas. Hulda Sólveig Jóhannsdóttir, project manager for healthy workplaces, supports managers with the implementation to make it as simple and effective as possible. The culture in the workplaces changes for the better when there are goals and they are followed through to ensure they are achieved. The implementation was set for two years, but the intention is for Hafnarfjörður to run healthy workplaces into the future.

A health-promoting workplace is a tool that enables workplaces to approach the subject systematically and create an environment and conditions that promote improved health and well-being. If successful, it can prevent burnout and reduce staff turnover.

The aim is: Improved health, increased well-being and job satisfaction, fewer accidents and illnesses, increased capacity, increased productivity, fewer absences and sick days, increased creativity and innovation, to name but a few.

Health promotion in the workplace is a good investment in human capital.