SHIP stories
The Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)
works to improve health through better nutrition,
increased physical activity and decreased
commercial tobacco use and exposure.
Across the state, work places are one
key area in which SHIP works to improve
health. As of June 2011:
• SHIP has assisted with over 870
worksite wellness initiatives. These
efforts reached over 138,000
employees across the state and set
the stage to reduce obesity and tobacco use,
improve productivity and help contain health
care costs.
Detroit Lakes Lakeshirts company
builds healthier workplace
For the past few years, Mike Hutchinson and Mark
Fritz, owners of Lakeshirts Manufacturer in Detroit
Lakes, have been thinking about making a greater
commitment towards employee health.
Similar to other small businesses, the company’s
insurance claims were high. Through working
on Statewide Health Improvement Program
(SHIP) worksite wellness collaborative, Lakeshirts
Manufacturer received the nudge needed to put their
plans into motion.
“By working in the collaborative it gave Lakeshirts
the support of outside agencies to move forward on
some critical employee wellness initiatives,” said Karen
Nitzkorski, Worksite Wellness Coordinator.
First, in July of 2012, the company built a cafeteria
and kitchen for their break room. Providing healthy
meals for employees was extremely important to Mike
and Mark. Mike and Mark hoped the healthy options
served during the employees’ 30 minute lunch break
would help employees choose healthier options and
8/2012
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii
ultimately create a healthier workforce.
“Rather than have employees run elsewhere to get
something fast and less healthy, they built a facility
to provide healthy and affordable foods all created
on site,” said Hutchinson. All food is made fresh on
site by company employees and costs less than $3.25
per meal. In addition, all meals were reviewed by a
registered dietitian for their nutritional value.
In addition, the company also built a lactation room
for mothers and infants. “Through the worksite wellness
collaborative, they were inspired by the presentation
that the lactation consult did. It motivated them to move
ahead and make space for breastfeeding moms in the
workplace,” commented Karen.
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SHIP is working to make the healthy choice the easy
choice in Minnesota. Find out how at
www.health.state.mn.us/ship