Health And Wellness Programs

Employee Wellness Plans that support staff members and the setting that they work in have been shown to be a good return on investment (ROI). Employee Wellness Plans can be extensive and sometimes costly. However, there are ways for small organizations to make positive changes at little or no cost.

Employee Wellness Program: Physical Fitness/Weight Management Programs

1. Provide access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational programs before, during, and after work hours.
2. Offer and encourage participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3. Offer cash incentives or decreased insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or weight management or maintenance programs.
4. Offer shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5. Offer outdoor exercise areas such as fields and trails for staff member use.
6. Offer bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7. Offer onsite fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8. Offer an on-site exercise facility.
9. Set up programs that have strong social support systems and rewards, such as:
o Buddy or team physical activity goals
o Programs that involve staff members and family
o Programs to encourage physical activity, such as pedometer walking challenges
o Explore discounted or subsidized memberships at local health clubs, recreation centers, or YMCAs
10. Offer flexible work hours to allow for physical activity during the day.
11. Support physical activity breaks during the workday, such as stretching or walking.
12. Host walk-and-talk meetings.
13. Map out onsite trails or nearby walking routes and destinations.
14. Have staff members map out their own biking or walking route to and from work.
15. Post motivational signs at elevators and escalators to encourage stair usage.
16. Offer exercise/physical fitness messages and information to staff members.
17. Offer or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the community.
18. Start staff member activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Offer onsite child care facilities to facilitate physical activity.
20. Sponsor a bike to work day and reward staff members who participate.
21. Set up a box and solicit fitness and health tips.

Employee Wellness Program: General Health Education Programs

1. Have a current policy outlining the requirements and functions of a comprehensive workplace Employee Wellness Program.
2. Have a wellness plan in place that addresses the purpose, nature, duration, resources necessary, participants in, and expected results of a workplace Employee Wellness Program.
3. Orient staff members to the Company Health and Wellness Program and give them copies of the physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use policies.
4. Promote and encourage staff member participation in the physical activity/fitness and nutrition education/weight management program.
5. Offer health education information to staff members.
6. Have a committee that meets at least once a month to oversee the Employee Wellness Program.
7. Offer regular health education seminars on various physical activity, nutrition, and wellness-related topics. Ask voluntary health associations, medical care providers, and/or public health agencies to offer onsite education classes.
8. Host a health fair as a kick-off event or as a celebration for completion of a wellness campaign.
9. Designate specific areas to support staff members such as diabetics and nursing mothers.
10. Conduct preventive wellness screenings for blood pressure, body composition, blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
11. Offer confidential health risk appraisals.
12. Offer onsite weight management/maintenance programs for staff members.
13. Add weight management/maintenance, nutrition, and physical activity counseling as a member benefit in medical insurance contracts.

Employee Wellness Program: Tobacco Cessation

1. Establish a company policy prohibiting tobacco use anywhere on the property.
2. Offer prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3. Policy supporting participation in smoking cessation programs during duty time (flex-time).
4. Offer counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5. Offer counseling through a healthcare plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling program.
6. Offer cessation medications through medical insurance.