NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) recognized the American Diabetes Association of New Orleans for achieving workplace wellness as part of the City’s Fit NOLA Business certification program. The designation as a ‘fit business’ recognizes the American Diabetes Association’s commitment to worksite wellness, which includes policies to encourage physical activity during the work day, healthy nutrition education programs to employees and a tobacco-free campus.
“I commend the American Diabetes Association of New Orleans for their Fit Business certification and welcome them to the growing list of Fit Businesses in the New Orleans area," said Charlotte Parent, director of the New Orleans Health Department. "Fit NOLA is about making the healthy choice the easy choice. Businesses can do that by making sure that workplaces promote health and wellness, which will benefit employers and employees alike. I encourage all of the businesses in our area to consider joining the Fit NOLA Business certification program.”
The ‘Fit Business’ certification program is based on national worksite wellness models that help businesses move their employees toward physical and nutritional fitness. The City’s program recognizes businesses in the Greater New Orleans region that meet certain standards for worksite wellness such as: encouraging employees to being physically active and eat fresh fruit and vegetables, providing lactation rooms in the office, and having a tobacco-free workplace. Businesses that meet or surpass these standards receive special awards.
There are four designation levels businesses can achieve through the program: platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards. For their current policies and ongoing efforts to promote workplace wellness, the American Diabetes Association of New Orleans has achieved a silver level business designation.
Fit NOLA, Mayor Mitch Landrieu's comprehensive plan to achieve healthy weight and fitness in New Orleans, provides businesses with the tool kit assessment to identify areas of improvement in hopes to lower employer expenses and improve employee health.
In 2013, the Business Sector, one of Fit NOLA’s six strategically formed teams, developed the Fit NOLA Business Toolkit to help companies assess their current state of workplace wellness. Comprised of representatives from Fortune 500 companies and local non-profits and universities, the Business Sector created the assessment to identify areas in which businesses could improve and celebrate championed initiatives and policies of employee health.
