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Civil servants are going to get new keep fit plans at work

The public sector employs 288,561 people in Ireland, around 15% of the workforce.

A NEW WORKPLACE initiative is being launched to get civil servants more active.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar will today announce a new initiative to get public sector workers healthier.

The public sector employs 288,561 people in Ireland, around 15% of the workforce, so Varadkar says that tackling sickness and absenteeism is common sense.

“It’s well established that a healthy workforce is a happier one with low levels of sick leave and greater productivity.

So this approach makes pure business sense too for the public and private sectors. We are putting this on a statutory basis to send a clear message that we mean business in improving the nation’s health.

Under the scheme, employers across the public sector will develop “healthy workplace” policies to support the health and well-being of their employees.

The proposed Health and Wellbeing (Workplace Wellbeing) Bill signed off at cabinet recently will require public service employers to develop a ‘healthy workplace’ policy to promote the physical, mental and social wellbeing of employees.

The measures will be voluntary and each workplace will be able to come up with their own initiatives.

These could include travel programmes, exercise clubs or smoking cessation programmes.

Many private companies have similar schemes, but Varadkar says they can still play a big part in the health of the nation.

“We want to learn from them about what has worked. There will also be opportunities for companies which haven’t developed their own policies just yet. That’s why we are setting up new ways to engage with both public and private sector employers to promote healthy workplaces.”

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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Feb 24th 2016, 8:28 AM

    Beautiful fresh mornings!

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    Mute John S
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    Feb 24th 2016, 9:32 AM

    Grand stretchy evenings

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    Mute Paddy o'brien
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    Feb 24th 2016, 1:57 PM

    Indeed

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Feb 24th 2016, 8:31 AM

    As long as it’s not fooking raining…

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    Mute Fail Gael
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    Feb 24th 2016, 8:36 AM

    Well last night it was beautiful clear skies and could see Jupiter beside the moon…

    Although twas a pain in the hole defrosting the car

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    Mute Cornelius Traas
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    Feb 24th 2016, 8:36 AM

    Much needed respite for farmers. The fields are drying at last.

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    Mute Donna Moss
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    Feb 24th 2016, 8:33 AM

    I was a bit chilly earlier while out walking. Wrap up well. It is a lovely dry but frosty morning.

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Feb 24th 2016, 9:22 AM

    The Department of Education and the Catholic Church say Spring beings on the first of February.
    Meteorologists say the first of March is Spring.
    The Astronomical Spring begins on Sunday 20th March.

    Green thumbs up if you think Spring begins in February and red thumbs down if you think Spring begins in March.

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    Mute Anthony Ryan
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    Feb 24th 2016, 10:19 AM

    Spring begins in March!

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Feb 24th 2016, 11:18 AM

    Who cares?

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    Mute TheBull
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    Feb 24th 2016, 11:40 AM

    We don’t have seasons in Ireland. The cold rain just slowly gives way to the warmer rain.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Feb 24th 2016, 9:59 AM

    What’s with all the wusses who spend ages laboriously scraping their car windows with a piece of plastic because they’re afraid they’ll make the kettle of water too hot? That’s no way to live.

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    Mute Donnachaín Ní Uallacháin
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    Feb 24th 2016, 12:28 PM

    Always remind me of this:
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3McfrgMN8EM

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    Mute Mac Ready
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    Feb 24th 2016, 11:48 AM

    Mild winter, cold spring and hot sunny summer (hopefully)!

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    Mute Grace Jeaney
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    Feb 24th 2016, 11:03 AM

    Better than the rain!

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    Mute Danny Nash
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    Feb 24th 2016, 10:13 AM

    Up and about on our local greenway before sunrise, lovely morning. Hope this weather lasts a while.

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    Mute Kieran Stafford
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    Feb 24th 2016, 9:54 AM

    Swimming pool again so

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    Mute Padraic Burke
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    Feb 24th 2016, 9:17 PM

    Winter-November December January
    Spring-February March April
    Summer-May June July
    Autumn-August September October.
    That’s just what it is.

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Feb 24th 2016, 8:38 PM

    I hope the rain doesn’t suppress turnout. The govt parties would benefit from that

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