BANGOR – The Bangor Daily News has joined a growing group of local companies in promoting wellness in the workplace. The NEWS recently created a wellness council that already has enhanced the company’s smoking cessation efforts, promoted walking and other forms of exercise, and held a “healthy picnic” to draw attention to the effort.

As part of the Bangor Region Wellness Council, the NEWS joins more than 40 other companies that aim to promote good health among their employees.

Bangor aims to become one of the first “well regions” in the country by having a minimum of 20 companies attain “well workplace” status. To be a well workplace, an employer must complete an application process that includes levels of support and employee involvement.

The application covers company history, wellness efforts, a comprehensive wellness strategy for the organization and a data collection-evaluation system.

The region is focusing on wellness because a healthy work force is essential to the region’s and the country’s growth and prosperity. In addition, rising health care costs are a significant concern and much of the illness in the United States is preventable.

As part of its effort to promote employee well-being, the NEWS:

. Offers smoking cessation support and assistance.

. Held a healthy choices picnic to remind employees of the importance of healthful eating.

. Provides fresh fruit daily as an alternative to high-fat, sugary snacks.

. Will hold free individual in-house health risk assessments.

A Bangor Daily News team will participate in the American Heart Walk on Oct. 18 to raise funds for heart attack and stroke prevention. The team will walk in memory of the paper’s Millinocket district manager, Gene Stewart, who died in August of a heart attack at age 45.

The typical American now works an average of 47 hours per week. Because of the amount of time spent at work, the workplace can provide a stable, supportive environment for promoting health-conscious decisions and attitudes while encouraging personal responsibility for wellness.