20. Wellness Policy

20.1. The Department believes that employees who participate in a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise are generally more productive, and may require the use of fewer sick days.

20.2. Employees who participate in a "Wellness Activity" during their normal workday may use up to 30 minutes each workday for the activity by adjusting their normal workday beginning or ending time with prior division director approval.

20.3. Wellness Activities include:

..........20.3.a. Walking Outside

..........20.3.b. Running Outside

..........20.3.c. Treadmill

..........20.3.d. Weight Training

.......................20.3.d.A. Free Weights

.......................20.3.d.B. Universal Weight Machines

..........20.3.e. Stationary Bicycles

..........20.3.f. Power Riders

..........20.3.g. Other activities approved by the WVDA Wellness Committee

..........20.3.h. A Time and Attendance Report (T&A) shall have notations for each day a wellness activity was done. The T&A shall reflect an additional 30 minutes between the workday's beginning and ending times. Employees should plan to arrive at work 30 minutes earlier or stay 30 minutes later than normally scheduled. The employee's "Total Hours" shall not reflect the time used for a wellness activity. A notation under "Comments" should indicate which wellness activity was accomplished on a particular day.

20.4. Guthrie Wellness Fitness Center

..........20.4.a. Use of the Wellness Fitness Center is at the employee's own risk. A release must be signed before using the Wellness Fitness Center equipment. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the Wellness Committee are not liable for any injuries.

..........20.4.b. The Wellness Fitness Center is located in Building 1, beside the Meat & Poultry Inspection offices.

..........20.4.c. The Wellness Fitness Center shall be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each workday.

..........20.4.d. Employees may use the Wellness Fitness Center at any time during the workday; however, employees shall call the designated Wellness Committee member to schedule a workout time. The Wellness Fitness Center can only accommodate two persons at a time, and the workout time shall start and end on the hour and half-hour.

..........20.4.e. When employees workout before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m., for safety reasons, it is recommended that they have a workout partner.

20.5. The Department reserves the right to amend or eliminate this policy at its discretion.