June’s Lunch & Learn on presenteeism marked the halfway point of the 2014 bi-monthly gatherings for area businesses to network on health issues impacting the workforce in Mower County.

The lunches have provided valuable insight to not only discussing common concerns but sharing positive approaches to address the concerns. This strength-based focus is surfacing powerful questions for us to explore when desiring to improve the health of our workforce, current and future employees.

Chemical use, coping with stress and the challenge of presenteeism have been topics for 2014 that have surfaced great conversations with those attending. Area experts join us as guest facilitators at each lunch to guide the conversation and look for common themes to connect on. Area businesses/organizations have the opportunity to sponsor a Lunch & Learn, supporting the growing collaborations of professionals networking to positively impact the worksites represented and beyond. Mayo Clinic Health Systems (MCHS), MCHS Fountain Centers, Mower County’s Statewide Health Improvement Program, and Quality Pork Processors Inc. have generously donated to make the Lunch & Learns possible.

The conversations over lunch are providing fuel for the Workforce Wellness team as they determine how best to disseminate the valuable information we are gaining. Excessive stress, chronic illnesses and self-medicating have been key themes across businesses regardless of the company size. Many companies are addressing the issues creatively, and through the annual Refreshed Business of the Year awards we feature best practices that have proven effective and cost efficient.

The Workforce Wellness team is collaborating for collective impact to host events that support wellness in the workplace and provide on-site Lunch & Learns for businesses who are interested in having wellness conversations brought to their organization’s site.

Our next Lunch & Learn is noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at the Town Center Conference Room with Karissa Studier from the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) joining us as the guest facilitator. We’ll explore the resources available to businesses of all sizes through SHIP funding and the worksite wellness strategies created to provide positive impact to the health of employees. Future Lunch & Learn dates can be found at http://mowerrefreshed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/04/Lunch-N-Learn-8.5-x-11-General-Flyer_2014.pdf. Topics coming up are how to effectively motivate employees to engage in healthy lifestyles, the power of resilience in creating a strong organizations, and exploring how business and schools can collaborate to build a healthy future workforce.

Join the conversation by attending, support the conversations by sponsoring, and considering bringing the conversation to your organization. For more information on future topics or how to sponsor a lunch contact us at 507-434-1039 or connect@MowerRefreshed.org

Wellness Wednesday tip

Get out and explore the trails this summer! Mower County has many fun opportunities to enjoy the warm months too; ever been to Shooting Star State Trail in LeRoy? Pack a picnic, get out there, and play! For more information, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/shootingstar/index.html