Local businesses can learn how to help their employees maintain a work-life balance while improving productivity and profit at the same time at a free networking meeting next month.

The session, which will be hosted by the Halton Region Health Department Wednesday, Apr. 16, has been designed for human resource professionals, occupational health nurses, health and safety representatives and wellness committee members.

It'll run from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Halton Regional Centre, located at 1151 Bronte Rd., Oakville.

"It continues to be important for us to gather local employers to talk about healthy workplaces," said Regional Chair Gary Carr. "Everyone wants to strike that balance in their lives. We need to talk seriously about how to make it attainable for all of the 200,000 employees throughout Halton."

The meeting facilitator will be Joan Burton, a senior strategy advisor on healthy workplaces for the Industrial Accident Prevention Association.

With her guidance, meeting participants will discuss work-life harmony and the current situation in Canada, including the latest work-life balance research findings.

"It is important for every organization to make a commitment to workplace health," said Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal. "Employees working in organizations that place a high value on workplace health can experience improved health, increased job satisfaction, decreased risk of injury and/or illness and an increased ability to balance work and family responsibilities."

For more information, to register for the networking meeting or to be added to the mailing list for future meetings call the Region at (905) 825-6000 or visit www.halton.ca.