Worksite Wellness Legislation

DSHS provides this report in accordance with the requirements of Government Code, Chapter 664.

Employee Wellness in Texas State Agencies

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) supports state agencies by providing guidance and resources to create effective wellness programs to improve employee health, decrease healthcare expenditures, and increase productivity.

Texas Government Code, Chapter 664, State Employees Health Fitness and Education, outlines how state agencies put an employee wellness program in place, including:

Using the DSHS model program and/or evidence-based components developed by DSHS;
Choosing an employee to serve as the wellness liaison between the agency and the Statewide Wellness Coordinator at DSHS;
Developing an agency wellness council;
Allowing employees to participate in wellness council activities for two or more hours each month;
Allowing each employee 30 minutes during normal working hours for exercise three times each week;
Allowing all employees time to attend on-site wellness seminars when offered; and
Including financial incentives for participation, onsite clinic or pharmacy services, and additional wellness policies.

Visit Government Code, Chapter 664, for full details.

State Agency Wellness Implementation and Participation Report

As directed by Texas Government Code, Section 664.053, DSHS must study the implementation and participation rates of state agency worksite wellness programs and report findings to the Legislature biennially.

The report outlines the results of two surveys completed by statewide wellness liaisons and state agency employees. Results of these two surveys provide information about participation among state agencies and the perception of wellness programs that serve state employees.

Information about the specific strategies and implementation resources is available on the Work Well Texas website.