December 2022
mspWellness News
Goodbye 2022!
We want to start December’s newsletter with a moment of reflection. This was a big year for mspWellness - the first full year with operational pillars of work and opportunities for businesses to utilize tangible resources and technical assistance. We are so proud of the work that was done in 2022 across hundreds of organizations to help employees live well and cultivate wellness culture. We couldn’t have done this work without all of you - the mspWellness partners and network! We can’t wait to see what’s next in 2023!
Coming Soon: 2023 Minneapolis Micro-Grants
The Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Minneapolis Health Department are excited to announce a new round of Micro-Grants in 2023. The Minneapolis Micro-Grant program is an mspWellness program that provides small businesses in Minneapolis with funding and technical assistance for wellness-focused activities and programs that improve employee physical and mental health. These grants are available through a partnership between the Minneapolis Health Department and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, and leverage funding from the Minnesota Department of Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership grant (SHIP). Grants are awarded to businesses and non-profit organizations that submit proposals focused on changing workplace policies, systems, and environments in one of the designated categories of eligible wellness projects. In 2023, projects that are focused on breastfeeding support and supporting social connections at work will be prioritized.

2023 applications will open in January. Look for more information and a link to apply at the start of the year at www.mspwellness.com/micro-grants.

And, join us virtually on January 9th and January 25th, 2023 to learn more about the Micro-Grant opportunity and how your organization can leverage funding and professional expertise to improve employee wellbeing.
Coming Soon: 2023 Minneapolis Micro-Grants
Each month, we’re highlighting one of the 2022 mspWellness Champions. Champions are organizations that create, implement, and promote wellness programs as part of their organizational culture, and meet the criteria defined by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and the Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis Departments of Health. The Champion designation program was created to recognize and celebrate organizations who work to positively affect the health and well-being of their employees and communities. To learn more about the Champion designation program, visit mspwellness.com/champions.
December’s featured mspWellness Champion is Packard Culligan Water.

Packard Culligan Water took a new approach to employee wellbeing this year with their “Dealership Choice Challenges.”

As a company with more than 30 locations across the state of Minnesota, it can be hard to engage employees in wellness programming in a one-size-fits-all model. That’s why Packard Culligan decided to try something new. This year, 40 employee wellness champions across 34 locations submitted ideas for various wellbeing challenges they would like to see in the company’s quarterly wellness focuses. For example, in the third quarter, the focus was "FUEL," and employee champions submitted ideas for nutrition challenges. Packard Culligan took the top 3 most popular ideas and created 3 challenges to implement company-wide! Each location/dealership was then able to select one challenge (of the three options), and engagement increased tremendously - from 18% of employees participating in company-wide challenges historically to 46%!

One employee wellness champion wrote "I loved that we all got to pick what we wanted versus just having to do whatever challenge was already created for us. Everyone had a voice and participation doubled!"

mspWellness is thrilled to celebrate and share innovative ideas in employee wellness like Packard Culligan’s Dealership Choice Challenges. Stay tuned for more mspWellness Champion features in 2023!
Begin 2023 by boosting your immune system
Start the year boosting the system to help fight germs, heal faster, and feel more energized. The large network of organs, cells, proteins and chemicals that comprise your immune system can do its best work if you adopt some simple lifestyle changes and habits. Pick one to start.

  • Eat a balanced diet, including healthy fats and whole foods
  • Get enough sleep
  • Exercise regularly
  • Wash your hands frequently and practice good hygiene
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Manage stress
  • Avoid vaping, cigarettes and other tobacco products
  • Drink alcohol in moderation
Resources & Information
Introducing the new mspWellness Employer Resource Hub!
mspWellness has officially launched its new Employer Resource Hub! The Resource Hub is a place for employers to find resources, connections, and opportunities focused on enhancing the health and well-being of employees and communities. Inside the hub you'll find curated lists of health and wellness organizations, educational resources on a wide variety of health and wellness topics, and several pre-recorded webinars.

We invite you to explore the mspWellness Employer Resource Hub, and please share your feedback!
Living Well by HealthPartners
HealthPartners Community Living Well solution takes a tiered approach to well-being:

  • Individual participants gain insights into their health status and lifestyle risk factors and are supported to make positive change through access to research-based activities and resources to meet them at their level of need.
  • Employers receive strategic planning consultation, robust reporting, and program customizations to drive engagement in their population – leading to a workforce that feels cared for and supported in their well-being all while lowering health risk and increasing productivity.
  • Working in collaboration among employer groups and HealthPartners broader community health and well-being themes are determined and addressed throughout the year.

We invite you to reach out to HealthPartners to learn more about the Community Living Well options!
About mspWellness
mspWellness is a program of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber designed to provide businesses with resources to create and sustain healthy work environments through wellness programs.

The Minneapolis Health Department and the Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health 
Department are partners of the chamber in this effort with support from the Minnesota Department 
of Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) and Community Wellness Grant, which provides funding as a catalyst for creating healthier communities.