Governor’s Foundation Recognizes the Gatlinburg Recreation Department as a Healthier Tennessee Workplace

The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness announced that the Gatlinburg Recreation Department has been named a 2015 Healthier Tennessee Workplace for its commitment to encouraging and enabling employees to live a healthy lifestyle both at work and at home.

“Gatlinburg Recreation Department has created a culture of wellness that encourages and enables employees to be healthier, more productive, and more satisfied with their jobs. It’s good for business, and it’s good for Tennessee,” Rick Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Governor’s Foundation said.

To become a Healthier Tennessee Workplace, Gatlinburg Recreation Department certified that they have a wellness program in place that does the following:

• Encourages and enables physical activity in the workplace
• Offers healthy eating options at work
• Provides a tobacco-free environment and help with tobacco cessation
• Encourages and enables employees to monitor their own health through regular health risk assessments, screenings or check-ups
• Rewards and recognizes employees for participating in health and wellness activities and achieving health improvements

“The Gatlinburg wellness program has been in place for a number of years and continues to grow every year. The efforts from the Recreation Department staff and the continuous improvement and success of the wellness program have been an essential part in our ability to keep a healthier conscious work force,” Dave Anderson programs director said.

Gatlinburg Community Center employees Jaylen Hughes and Alan Walbolt discussing the importance of walking regular routes, which is one of the Small Steps options highlighted in the Healthier Tennessee Program.

“We as an organization are very hopeful that we can get other areas of our city involved in this excellent program,” Sally Worden, Gatlinburg Community Center manager added.

Those interested in becoming a Healthier Tennessee Workplace should apply at www.healthiertn.com/workplace. A company representative must register for Small Starts @ Work, then use the Small Starts tool to enter information about the healthy practices the company has in place to promote physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco cessation. Companies that don’t currently have an ongoing wellness program can use Small Starts @ Work, a free, online tool, available through the Healthier Tennessee initiative, to get started and become eligible. The designation is granted for one full year with an opportunity to renew on an annual basis.”

For assistance in registering for the Healthier Tennessee or to answer any questions, you may contact Linda Hyder with UT Extension in Sevier County. Linda commented “I introduced the opportunity of Healthier Tennessee to Sally Worden and was immediately impressed by her enthusiasm and what all the staff was currently offering for the wellness of Gatlinburg city employees. This recognition by the Governor’s Foundation is well deserved by the staff of the Community Center. I look forward to more departments in Gatlinburg getting involved, so we can brag about the City of Gatlinburg being named one of the top Healthier TN Workplace cities in the state.”

If you would like to find out more or need assistance in registering to be a Healthier TN Workplace, you may locally contact Linda Hyder, UT Extension at 453-3695 or lhyder@utk.edu