UH-Victoria

Office of the Vice President for
Administration and Finance

SECTION: PERSONNEL C-32

SUBJECT: EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM

POLICY

 

In cooperation with the Texas Department of State Health Services, the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV or University) developed this policy as the foundation for the University’s Employee Wellness Program. Wellness Program initiatives will address the primary components of a healthy lifestyle including healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation and stress management.  Wellness activities are open to all employees; however participation in some activities will require Supervisor approval.  While employee participation is encouraged, it is completely voluntary.  Because activities are intended to improve the health and well-being of all employees, employee needs and interests will be considered in the planning and design of wellness activities. 

The Director, Human Resources/Affirmative Action will oversee the program, which will be coordinated through the Office of Training and Continuing Education.

 

Program Objectives

Primary Goal – The University Wellness Program will focus on improvement of the well-being and productivity of all employees, through enhancement of all aspects of health. The program seeks to increase awareness of positive health behaviors, to motivate employees to voluntarily adopt healthier behaviors and to provide opportunities and a supportive environment to foster positive lifestyle changes. In addition to the benefits for employees, positive benefits are likely to accrue to the families of employees. Employer benefits include lower employee health care costs and happier, more productive employees.

Program Activities and Eligibility Requirements

All employees are eligible to participate in wellness activities; however, participation in some activities will require supervisor approval.

 Fitness Release Time Program

Employees who are approved to participate in the Fitness Release time Program may have up to three (3) hours a week to participate in an exercise program or activity.  

Release time cannot exceed three (3) hours per week - this includes a combination of time off approved through the College Release Time program and Fitness Release program. 

Supervisors are encouraged to approve employee release time providing participation does not interfere with the employee’s position responsibilities or departmental operations.  Participation is open to full-time, benefits-eligible staff that have successfully completed six (6) months employment. 

The employee must apply for the Fitness Release Time Program.  Refer to Attachment A.

 

 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The University of Houston-Victoria currently contracts with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to provide a comprehensive, university-wide Employee Assistance Program. 

 

EAP Services include:

·         Counseling

·         Legal

·         Financial

·         Training/Seminars

·         Work/Life

The Employee Assistance Program is open to all benefits eligible employees.  More information about this program can be found at the UT EAP website: http://www.uthouston.edu/worklife/EAP/clientpage/index.html

 

Corporate Cup Event

The purpose of Corporate Cup is to promote community-wide interest and involvement in fitness and health activities.  It also inspires camaraderie among employees, families, and other team members. The University encourages employee participation in the Corporate Cup and will pay for the cost of UHV team sponsorships. To learn more, visithttp://www.uhv.edu/corpcup/2008/  

 

Victoria College Sports Center

The Victoria College Sports Center is available to UHV employees at no charge and may be used for some wellness activities.  The Victoria College Sports Center is available for use by all faculty and staff at no cost to the university.  The facility is also available at no cost to employee spouses.  In addition, dependent children who are full-time students have access to the center at no cost following current center guidelines. 

The VC Sports Center is a place for students, faculty and staff to get fit, stay healthy and have fun.  The Center offers a full weight room facility, aerobics room, gym and locker rooms.  Tennis and sand volleyball courts are also available.  Some services are not available to UHV employees. 

For more information visit the VC website:  http://www.victoriacollege.edu/sportscenter

 

Use of Facilities

Campus Wellness Program activities are expected to primarily take place in facilities owned, leased or rented by the University of Houston-System or University of Houston-Victoria.  Available facilities may include classrooms, auditoriums, multi-purpose rooms, and conference and seminar rooms.  No modifications to buildings or facilities are anticipated for wellness program activities. 

 

Providers of Instruction

Providers of instruction or services for the wellness program may include health educators, nutritionists, mental health professionals, certified fitness instructors and certified instructors in respective fields.  Only persons with acceptable credentials will be selected for program activities.

Outside agencies including the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, the UHV Employee Assistance Provider (EAP), American Red Cross and Texas Department of State Health Services will be utilized to assist in program presentation and educational services.

 

Program Content

The Wellness Program will consist of activities that include awareness, lifestyle changes, and supportive environment.  Depending on availability of funds and personnel support, the activities in each area may include, but are not limited to:

Awareness

·         Materials on bulletin boards around campus

·         Informative handouts and brochures

·         Information posted to the Training and Continuing Education web site

·         Periodic emails to the university community

·         Information on Blue Care Connection through Blue Cross Blue Shield (Personal Health Manager is an online resource that connects the employee to information, resources and online tools to help manage the employee’s health.)

Lifestyle Changes

·         Participation in fitness programs at the Victoria College Sports Center

·         Participation in various fitness programs outside the university

·         Workshops and seminars coordinated by Training and Continuing Education

·         Referral to Employee Assistance Program (UT Health Science Center)

 

Program Costs

Most UHV sponsored Wellness Program activities will be offered at no charge or at a nominal cost to the employee.

No university funds may be used to pay for individual memberships to off-campus health clubs, sports leagues or for medical treatment facilities.

University sponsored team registrations for event participation, such as the annual community Corporate Cup are acceptable with approval of the Cabinet Level Supervisor and the Wellness Program Administrator. 

 

Program Scheduling

Most educational and awareness programs will be offered during normal work hours or during the lunch hour.  Departments may plan an educational workshop for the entire department when it is believed that the activity will improve the productivity of the overall employee group.  Supervisors are encouraged to allow for participation in programs that are offered during business hours. 

 

Program Administration and Coordination

The Director, Human Resources/Affirmative Action will serve as the program administrator.  Wellness Program activities will be coordinated through the Office of Training and Continuing Education.  Campus and Safety Risk Management will provide assistance and guidance when requested.

 

Expected Results

Employees who regularly participate in wellness activities should experience noticeable health benefits, better quality of life, lower medical expenses, less absenteeism and higher levels of work productivity. 

It is expected employees who utilize the UHV Employee Assistance Program will report satisfaction with those services, and the services were an aid in the elimination or amelioration of personal problems negatively affecting their work performance.

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Program

 

Training and Continuing Education will employ various methods for monitoring and evaluating the Wellness Program:

1.     Initial Survey of Interests –  Upon approval of this policy, input from the overall employee population at all sites, including input from the Staff Council and Faculty Senate will be solicited to determine

o   topics of interest to UHV employees

o   effectiveness of the Fitness Release Time pilot program.

 

The survey will accomplish the following goals:

·       assess the success of the Fitness Release Time Program and its impact on participants;

·       develop and inventory of other employee Wellness Program interests

 

2.     Annual Progress Report – A summary progress report of the program will be provided to President’s Cabinet by

September 30th of each year for previous fiscal year activities.

 

3.     Biennial Assessment -  Conduct an employee-wide survey to assess

o   employees’ awareness of the program

o   employees’ participation in the program

o   employees’ satisfaction with the program

 

 

4.     Routine/Ongoing Review

·         Participation in the FRT will be recorded on the Time and Effort report for each employee (monthly or bi-weekly depending on the employee class)

·         Session Evaluation Forms for all education and lifestyle change course or seminar provided will be required.

·         Suggestion forms will be provided to participants to obtain quantitative and qualitative employee input into program activities.

·         Review of quarterly reports from UHV-EAP contracted vendor Coordinator by Human Resources Office.

Approved by: 

 

Signature Obtained            08/28/08 
Tim Hudson. Ph.D.            Date

Next review date:  September 2010
Origination:  HR/Office of Training and Continuing Education

References:

Texas Department of State Health Services – (Wellness Toolkit) http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wellness/wwt.shtm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attachment A

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-VICTORIA

Staff Fitness Release Time Application

The University of Houston-Victoria guidelines for application for the Fitness Release Program to provide for time off without reduction in pay or benefits to a maximum of three (3) hours per week.  This includes a combination of time off approved through the College Release Time.  The application must be approved, in advance, and must not interfere with operations of the employing department.  Only Full Time, Benefits Eligible Staff are eligible for the Fitness Release Time.  Supervisor reserves the right to change time requested or to decrease the amount of time approved due to operational considerations. 

Application Instructions:  Complete the application form and submit it to your supervisor prior to any time off.  After obtaining all signatures, submit this form to the Office of Human Resources.

===========================================================================

Employee Name:_______________________________________________________________________

 

Job Title:_______________________________________________________ Empl Id:______________

 

Department Name:_____________________________________________________________________

===========================================================================

 

  • Membership to a gym is not required.
  • The honor system will be used to track hours based on the time you put down on this form.
  • All participants must:
    • Document the number of hours on your timesheet.
    • Obtain proper signatures and return this completed and signed application to the Office of Human Resources for consideration to participate in the program.

 

Please describe the type of activity that you plan to participate in. (Ex. Yoga, aerobics, walking, workout at gym, etc.)

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Please enter the amount of time requested per week._________________________________________

Please enter the day(s) of the week requested._______________________________________________

Please enter the time of day requested to participate in program._______________________________

 

Note:  Any variations of these days and times must be approved by your supervisor.  Likewise, there may be times when your supervisor may require that you vary your schedule in order to meet departmental needs.

 

________________________________                        _________________________

Employee Signature                                                        Date

 

________________________________                        _________________________

Supervisor Signature                                                       Date

 

________________________________                        _________________________

Cabinet Level Supervisor                                                Date

 

________________________________                       _________________________

Human Resources                                                                 Date

[Back to MAIN Table of Contents]  [Back to SECTION Table of Contents]  [UHV HOME]