Putting People First: SAU1 Speaks Up About Wellness at Work

June 24, 2024 | by sau1admin

As we swing into summer here at SAU1, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate Employee Wellness Month. We take the health and wellness of our employees very seriously. As professional self advocates, we believe in putting the person first before productivity. This is not just something we say, this is something we do. You may be surprised to learn that that is not typical for most places of employment.

Corporate Wellness Magazine says of working American adults, there are over 150 million people that have some sort of chronic condition and/or disability. Sixty nine million of those people missed work time because of their chronic condition(s) and/or disability last year alone.

For our part here at SAU1, we take pride in putting our employees first. This includes their overall health and wellness. Our number one rule is: “Take care of yourself.” This encourages our employees to take care of their health so that they can be more productive members of our team. This is true for our paid employees and our volunteers.

A large majority of our staff and volunteers have chronic conditions or disability themselves. We advocate for a better work environment for those with disability and without. Taking care of yourself is just one of the ways that you can create a better work environment for everyone. No one should have to choose between their own health and their employment.

One of the other strategies for wellness mentioned in the article linked above is the idea of movement during work. We also do this at SAU1. During our longer meetings, we take a break to stretch and take care of ourselves. We also have an environment that allows for fun in the workplace, and concern for our coworkers. This not only helps us function as an organization, but it also allows us to be more productive during work. These are just some of the simple ways we create an environment that is both productive and puts people first.

Are you a strong self advocate that is looking to make a difference in the disability community? Do you want to work with a group of people that are passionate about disability advocacy? Do you experience disability and live in Pennsylvania? You might be just who we are looking for! SAU1 is currently seeking volunteers for our Board of Directors. This is an unpaid opportunity to be part of a group that makes a difference in the community and in people's lives! Check out this brochure for more information.