Are you a health-conscious business? Okay, how do you show it?
WIth an increasing focus on workplace wellness, the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) is ensuring businesses have a standard they can hold themselves to and maintain what they call the WELL Building Standard.
IWBI’s goal is to make the buildings we work and live in a more health-centric place to work, eat and exercise. According to their website, “IWBI delivers the cutting-edge WELL Building Standard, the first to be focused exclusively on the ways that buildings, and everything in them, can improve…our health and wellness.”
One example of IWBI’s work sits just down the street from the Space Needle at the former KING-5 building, the future 333 Dexter.
A combination of office space above and retail space below, 333D is setting the tone in South Lake Union for sustainable building with more space for bicycles than anywhere else in the city, complete with bike racks and lockers. The ever-present parking quagmire downtown is somewhat offset by five floors of sub-level parking space.
But, having a healthy office and workplace goes far beyond a nice building with good lighting. While it’s certainly a good start, IWBI tests eight separate markers including the air quality, employee health & fitness and innovations in professional well-being.
Unsurprisingly, IWBI sets one of its major tenants around nourishment.
Too often in the United States, workers have poor food options, whether they be meals or snacks. Certainly this contributes to the heart disease and epidemics. According to the CDC, one in four deaths are attributed to heart disease, about 610,000 annually.
A simple way to help combat chronic and life-altering health issues is to get a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Part of IWBI’s verification process is to ensure at least two varieties of fruits and also vegetables are available to employees.
Companies interested in becoming a WELL Accredited Professional can get started here. If you want a jump start on the initiative we can help with fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to your business. Click here to schedule your free tasting with ThirdLeafNW.