Resources > Getting Started > Washington Wellness Worksite (Designation Program)
Washington Wellness Worksite (Designation Program)
A Washington Wellness Worksite is a state work organization that has met a specific set of criteria to establish a healthy work culture. The criteria are a group of standards developed for Washington state agencies and institutions of higher education that, when performed together, improve workforce health and productivity. Please read the project charter for background information.
Eleven agencies and one institution of higher education achieved the Washington Wellness Worksite (W3) designation July 1. We congratulate these organizations on their achievement.
The following organizations were awarded their second W3 designation for demonstrating improvement in their employee health and productivity programs:
- Attorney General's Office
- Department of Health
- Department of Social and Health Services' Economic Services Administration
- Employment Security Department
- Higher Education Coordinating Board
The organizations listed below earned the designation for the first time:
- Department of Corrections, Headquarters
- Department of Information Services
- Department of Personnel
- Department of Retirement Systems
- Health Care Authority
- Department of Transportation
- Western Washington University (the only higher education institution to receive the honor)
In addition to these 12 organizations, Green River Community College demonstrated a significant commitment towards improving the health and health-related productivity of the workforce.
To achieve this designation, organizations were required to demonstrate a healthy work culture and measurable achievement in improving employee health over a period of 18 months. Approximately 28% of employees who work in agencies with 50 or more employees are now in an agency that is a designated Washington Wellness Worksite. By the end of June, 31% of employees in designated organizations had completed health surveys and health risk assessments while only 10% of all employees covered by PEBB had completed an HRA.
The pilot programs that established the designation program were funded by Senate Bill 5930 from July 2007-June 2011.
Interested in becoming a Washington Wellness Worksite?
The resources below will provide your State work organization the information it needs in order to work toward designation as a Washington Wellness Worksite.
The work of becoming designated is expected to take 12-15 months. Revisions to the criteria for the next designation application period are expected to be posted mid-2012 in time for submitting applications in Fall 2012. Those organizations currently designated Washington Wellness Worksites retain the designation until December 31, 2012. Organizations being re-designated or designated for the first time will receive the next designation beginning January 1, 2013.
Designation Resources
| Washington Wellness Worksite Charter | Background | DOC |
| Overview, Process and Acknowledgements | Background | DOC |
| Table Outlining Designation Levels (Silver, Gold, Platinum) | Background | DOC |
| July 2011 Washington Wellness Worksite Application Instructions | Instructions | DOC |
| July 2011 Washington Wellness Worksite Application | Application File | DOC |
| Application Folders and Files For Download – Platinum Level | Folders | ZIP |
| Application Folders and Files For Download – Gold Level | Folders | ZIP |
| Application Folders and Files For Download – Silver Level | Folders | ZIP |
Criteria Resources
The criteria to become a Washington Wellness Worksite have been divided into seven categories that spell out the word "Culture." Click on the links below to view additional resources under each of the categories.