Learning Circle on Workplace Wellness

Building a healthier, more productive workforce for Waukesha County.

"No time. No time." Ask people why they don't exercise three days a week and you are apt to hear that they can't find the time. Ask business leaders about wellness programs and you are apt to hear the same thing.

The Learning Circle on Workplace Wellness is the equivalent of an organizational "buddy system" for time-strapped wellness coordinators. Learning Circle members learn from experts - and each other - what works (and what doesn't work) to design, implement and maintain time-efficient, cost-effective workplace wellness programs.

Findings from the Worksite Health Promotion Survey prompted Heart Healthy Waukesha County to develop the Learning Circle to meet the needs of area employers struggling with health care costs and piecemeal approaches to workplace wellness.

Part support group, part study circle, and part leadership roundtable - the Learning Circle is not a wellness "program." It's an infomercial-free opportunity to learn about the best practices in worksite health promotion and discover what is most likely to work for your employees.

• Learn what others are doing about workplace wellness.
• Share ideas for motivating employees to make healthier choices.
• Exchange information about creating healthy workplace environments.
• Reduce the time required to build and maintain effective wellness programs.
• Discover how small investments in employee wellness can reap big returns in productivity.
• Learn from experts and each other how to create high-value health promotion programs.

Advisory Council
In 2008, the Wellness Council of Wisconsin assumed administrative responsibility for the Learning Circle on Workplace Wellness. The Learning Circle was originated by Heart Healthy Waukesha County in partnership with representatives of Aurora Health Care, Community Memorial Hospital, ProHealth Care, the Wellness Council and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Heart Healthy Waukesha County and its partners continue to serve on the Learning Circle’s Advisory Council and to provide the Learning Circle with process advisors, expert speakers and information specifically tailored to the needs of circle members.

Membership requirements
Learning Circle members have the opportunity (and responsibility) to

• Help create meeting agendas and identify topics for discussion
• Attend regularly and assure that meetings match their organizations' needs
• Share their personal knowledge and expertise
• Develop and implement wellness action plans

Members also are required to complete the Workplace Health Promotion Survey annually.

Who should join?
The Learning Circle is the right forum for anyone who has responsibilities for developing, managing or supervising health promotion activities in a workplace setting: wellness coordinators, human resource managers, safety officers, benefit managers, small business administrators.

What current members say

• "Informative, interactive, great place to network and hear about new programs."
• "An excellent opportunity to learn and network - share ideas and challenges."
• "This program really provided the meat and bones to get a program started."
• "The structure and implementation of the LC was terrific."
• "Everyone can gain ideas and knowledge, etc. from these meetings."
• "I think it's an important group that holds me accountable for my wellness program, as well as guides me in the right direction to make this a permanent lifestyle change. "
• "Great information and support! "
• "Having a variety of experiences, venues, backgrounds are an exceptional opportunity."

Where? When?
The Learning Circle on Workplace Wellness meets quarterly on the fourth Friday of the month (Fit Friday) from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at Waukesha County Technical College. When the fourth Friday conflicts with a holiday, the Learning Circle meets on the third Friday. For a schedule of monthly meetings for 2007-08, see the Events listing.

Registration
A one-year membership in the Learning Circle is $200 per person. Members joining after the series has commenced are eligible for a pro-rated fee. The registration fee includes all materials, heart healthy breakfasts, and discounted registration for the leadership workshop series.

Additional information
Direct specific questions to March Jacques, project coordinator for Heart Healthy Waukesha County, 262-786-9336; or to Theresa Islo, associate director of the Wellness Council, 414-291-9355.

Back one page.