Minnesota Summit On August 20 To Unveil New Toolkit For Improving Employee Wellness

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Employers from across the state will hear from Minnesota Governor Pawlenty and experts in employee wellness

August 16, 2007 -- Every dollar invested in employee wellness is estimated to yield three to six dollars in savings from decreased absenteeism, lower medical costs and improved productivity. Employers will learn how to improve employee wellness at the Healthy Minnesota Workplace Summit, Aug. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at General Mills in Golden Valley.

The summit is part of the Healthy Minnesota Workplace Initiative funded by a grant from the National Governor’s Association. More than 250 people interested in employee wellness are expected to attend the summit.

“One of the best ways to improve Minnesota’s overall health and contain rising health care costs is to promote employee wellness,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said. “This summit will provide practical and affordable tools that employers can use to implement effective employee wellness programs.”

In addition to Governor Pawlenty, other speakers include state and national experts in employee wellness, staff from the Minnesota Department of Health who developed the employee wellness toolkit, and employers who have pilot-tested the toolkit.

Here is the complete agenda for the summit:

* 8:30 Welcome - Moderator, Dr. Tim Crimmins, General Mills Health, Safety and Environment vice president; Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach
* 8:45 Keynote speaker - Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Promotion, Dr.
Michael O’Donnell
* 9:30 Question-and-answer session with keynote speaker
* 9:45 Presentation of the Healthy Minnesota Workplace Initiative Toolkit, presented by Minnesota Department of Health staff
* 10:30 Panel discussion with grantees who pilot-tested the toolkit, along with questions from the audience
* 11:45 What’s next…funding opportunities and additional resources within Minnesota -Director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s Prevention Minnesota Center, Dr. Marc Manley
* 12:15 Closing address - Governor Tim Pawlenty

Minnesota was one of 14 states awarded a one year health improvement grant from the National Governors Association, through their Healthy States Initiative. The initiative is administered by MDH and guided by a policy team consisting of members of the Governor’s Health Cabinet, representatives from the Department of Employee Relations, employers from urban and rural Minnesota, academia, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to disease prevention.

Please visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s Web site at http://www.health.state.mn.us/ for more information about the summit, including registration.

General Mills is located at One General Mills Blvd., Golden Valley, MN 55426. Media are invited to attend the summit.

Source: Minnesota Department of Health