Complimentary Healthy Workplace(R) Essentials Guide to Foster Employee Well-Being

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - July 22, 2015) - Canada's Healthy Workplace Month® 2015 now makes it easier than ever to plan and execute a strategy that will transform your workplace into a physically and psychologically healthy and safe one. Celebrating its 15^th year in October 2015, this free year-round web-based resource at healthyworkplacemonth.ca is focusing this year's theme on Healthy Workplace® Essentials, a step-by-step approach to Educate, Engage, and Empower your employees and to Evaluate improvement in your workplace. This year, join the thousands of repeat visitors who will discover new tools, templates, tips, and healthy activities to eliminate guesswork. Creative solutions and effective practices are also shared by many organizations in the site's SHOWCASE section.

As a not-for-profit developer of standards, integrated management systems, and national awards programs, Excellence Canada is offering its Healthy Workplace® Essentials program to employers at no charge, to help small and medium-sized organizations and departments take immediate actions that will improve employee engagement and well-being.

"There has never been more evidence than there is today to support a business case for creating a healthy work environment in your organization," said Allan Ebedes, President and CEO of Excellence Canada. "Productivity, innovation, and attracting the best talent are just three of many metrics that improve with a strategy for a Healthy Workplace®, and yield a strong return on every dollar invested. The high cost of delaying should be unacceptable to enlightened leaders."

Excellence Canada gratefully acknowledges the generosity and support of Great-West Life, presenting sponsor of Canada's Healthy Workplace Month® 2015.

"Businesses are seeing that employees want to participate in, and take charge of, their well-being in the workplace," says Cathy Weaver, Vice-President, Human Resources, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "We're excited to support these comprehensive resources for both employers and employees to create and sustain healthy workplaces."

Organizations that satisfy the Healthy Workplace® Essentials requirements will be well-positioned to continue toward recognition under the Canada Awards for Excellence for Healthy Workplace® of which Kimberly-Clark Professional is the Development Partner and Champion. The patron of the Canada Awards for Excellence program is His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General of Canada.

Nobody believes a healthy workplace is a bad idea. Take a giant leap toward wellness now by registering online at healthyworkplacemonth.ca to download your free copy of the Healthy Workplace® Essentials Requirements and Implementation Guide.

If not you, who? If not now, when?

The 15th annual Canada's Healthy Workplace Month® is funded with great appreciation through the generous support of the following sponsoring organizations:

Presenter: Great-West Life
Champions of Excellence: Kimberly-Clark Professional, Manulife Financial, Sun Life Financial
Advocates: Ricoh Canada Inc.
Supporters: Altalink, AON Hewitt, Carleton University, Desjardins Insurance, Herzig Eye Institute, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, PizzaPizza, Powerstream Inc., Workplace Safety Insurance Board
Media: Canada Wide Media, Canadian Government Executive, Postmedia Network, YourWorkplace

About Excellence Canada
Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to advancing organizational excellence across Canada. Since 1992, Excellence Canada has helped thousands of organizations become cultures of continuous quality improvement and world-class role models, through its four-level certification methodology including the Excellence, Innovation and Wellness® Standard, Healthy Workplace® Standard, and Mental Health at Work® Program.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/7/21/11G048292/Images/CHWM2105PosterMed-661364743068.jpg