Friday, May 10, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY – In celebration of Employee Health and Wellness Month, Governor Mary Fallin will lace up her walking shoes again this year to lead the second annual Governor’s Walk for Wellness at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Cabinet secretaries, state agency leaders, state employees and private businesses will join her in the walk around the Capitol complex.The event serves to raise awareness for worksite wellness programs.
Oklahoma ranks 43rd in the nation in health outcomes, according to the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings report. Worksite wellness programs can help improve the state’s ranking by encouraging employees to eat better, move more and be tobacco free. Worksite wellness programs also benefit employers by reducing healthcare costs and absenteeism, increasing worker productivity and attracting new employees to the business.
“Although our state has made gains in improving our overall health, there is more that we can do. Participating in physical activity daily is an important first step,” Fallin said. “I’m challenging leaders at state agencies as well as members of the business community to keep pace with me as we walk the Capitol grounds. The ‘Walk for Wellness” is a great event that demonstrates an easy solution to employee fitness that other Oklahoma employers can replicate.”