Maine in Motion   |   ACES
Maine Fitness Awards   |   Legislative Wellness Day
National Employee Health and Fitness Day

   
 

National Employee Health and Fitness Day

 

This Year's Event:  May 19, 2010
 

To register your site for NEHF Day, click here.

To report your NEHF participation online, click here.

To download a copy of the NEHF Day promotional products catalog, click here.

Click here for 2009 Participant List

2010 Event Sponsor:

 

Quote from 2008 Participant:
"This was our first year participating and we loved it.  This is such a great way to bring our employees together.  It's great to have a day that is healthy and fun at the same time.  Everyone gets involved; nice change from the normal work day.  Great to have a day that concentrates on the employees and their health."  -- Norway Savings Bank

     
 


Benefits   ~   Event Planning
Activity Ideas   ~   Tool Kit   
Registration~~   Past Participants


National Employee Health & Fitness Day, held annually on the third Wednesday in May, is a national health observance created by the National Association for Health and Fitness to raise awareness of the important role worksite health promotion programs play in enhancing the overall health and productivity of an organization.  Started in 1989, National Employee Health and Fitness Day has engaged tens of thousands of employees from employers around the world. 


Worksite health and fitness programs have a proven record for improving the overall health and productivity of the workforce!  We encourage you to checkout Welcoa's free reports.  These key reports, studies, and other publications are designed to help you understand some of the key issues involved in worksite health promotion programming.

National Employee Health & Fitness Day is an excellent kickoff for a worksite taking the first step in addressing worksite health or complementing an existing employee health program.  Below are some of the benefits, over time, of worksite health promotion programs:

Benefits
Benefits for Employers

  • Improved health care cost management

  • Enhanced employee productivity

  • Decreased rates of illness and injuries

  • Reduced employee absenteeism

  • Employee participation in program management helps develop leadership and planning skills

  • Impacts worksite "social capital" (levels of trust)

Benefits for Employees:

  • Lower levels of stress

  • Increased well-being, self-image, and self-esteem

  • Improved physical fitness

  • Increased stamina

  • Potential weight reduction

Benefits for the Community:

  • Your community workforce is healthier and more competitive in the global market place

  • Community partnerships build trust and relationships

Event Planning
Use the following suggestions and your own creativity to plan activities that best fit the needs of your organization and participants.

  1. Organize a planning team.

  2. Design your event.

  3. Set your timeline and stay on track.

  4. Outline your promotion plan.

  5. Remember: location, location, location.

  6. Be inclusive.

  7. Identify a Champion.

  8. Use incentives to boost participation.

  9. Document your success.

  10. Report your success.

Activity Ideas
Any activity that encourages movement, offers a health message, is fun and anyone (no matter what their current physical activity level is) can participate in would be ideal!  Here are a few suggestions:

Bike to Work Day:  Plan a bike-to-work day and reward employees who participate.

Chair Aerobics:  With a leader and music with a strong beat, do a routine that involves their arms and legs.  Incorporate fun props or strength bands.

Employee Wellness Walk:  Map out a 30-minute walk route for employees.  Consider an indoor and outdoor route employees could use even after the event.

Fitness Trail:  Set up a "fitness trail" within your office or building.  Post signs on elevators encouraging the use of stairs, designate "stretching areas," etc.

Office Stretch/Exercise Class:  Invite a local expert to teach a class or give a demonstration how office workers can stretch or exercise at their desk to reduce stress and increase energy levels.

Health Fair:  Invite employees and others from the community to participate in exercise demonstrations, health and fitness information booths, health screenings and nutrition counseling.

Obstacle Course:  Make a path where players maneuver through a course.  Can be judged individually or based on team times.

Additional Suggestions (all have been done in Maine):

  • Wellness Scavenger Hunt

  • Kickball Tournament

  • Exercise Tip Cards

  • Volley Ball Game

  • Chair Massages

  • Hula Hoop & Jump Rope Contests

  • Healthy Food Pot Luck

  • Lunch n' Learns

  • Yoga & Pilates Classes

  • Used as kick-off to a Wellness Program

Tool Kit
A NEHF Took kit is available on CD.  This CD is a guide to running a successful National Employee Health & Fitness Day celebration.  It includes tools for planning and tips to help make your celebration successful.  The CD goes for $13.95 and can be ordered online by clicking here. This web site also includes numerous items that can be purchased as incentives. 

 

Registration
Registering your site is simple, just
click here to go to an online registration form.  Sites who register will be listed on our web site and in our newsletter.  By registering your site through the Maine Governor's Council, it will help us track our success in promoting this program and provide adequate data for leveraging our funding resources on a Statewide initiative.  It also allows us to provide you with technical assistance, should you require help.  If you have already registered directly with the National Association on Health and Fitness, please send us an email to let us know.  We appreciate your assistance. 

Past Participants
Click here for 2008 Participant List

 

 





 




 

     
        user ID 

        password


Signup Now!

Forgot My Login
I Cannot See Pop-Ups

 

February 2010
Tours of Maine


Merrymeeting Tour
60 miles -- The more...

WinterKids Western Maine Passport Tour
40 miles. Exer more...


About Us    |    Resources    |    Calendar of Events    |    Programs and Events    |    Contact