FARMINGTON – The Healthy Community Coalition is holding its second annual Work Healthy! program, which recognizes businesses and organizations in Greater Franklin County that have placed a high priority on promoting good health for their employees.

By supporting a tobacco-free lifestyle, encouraging physical activity and/or promoting healthy eating, businesses and organizations may realize the benefits of a healthier workforce including reduced absenteeism, reduced disability costs, reduced health care costs, improved productivity and increased moral and loyalty.

By participating in the program, businesses can earn the Work Healthy! Award, which recognizes them as community leaders by promoting good health for their employees.

“It’s easy to do, engages staff and has many benefits,” said Nate Morse, program coordinator. “A business may already qualify if it has a written tobacco-free policy, offers healthy food choices or promotes health and wellness in a variety of ways.”

Morse said Healthy Community Coalition staff can provide no-cost technical assistance ideas and guidance for implementing strategies to improve the health of one’s workforce.

A sampling of activities used by area businesses includes implementing a tobacco policy; offering a brown bag forum on healthy eating; paying part of the fee for an employee to attend Weight Watchers or an exercise program; offering healthy food options when hosting meetings; and organizing a corporate team to participate in a charity walk.

During its first year the program had 12 organizations participate and Morse hopes to double the number this year.

For more information, contact the Healthy Community Coalition at 779-3136 or go online to http://www.fchn.org/hcc/health/work-healthy. Registration deadline is March 13.