Why Start an Employee Wellness Program

The holidays are right around the corner which means New Year resolutions are shortly to follow.  This is a great time to implement an Employee Wellness Program to help encourage and incentivize employees to live healthier lives.

What is an Employee Wellness Program?
It's a program that supports and promotes the health, safety and well-being of it's employees.

The Benefits of an Employee Wellness Program:

1. Greater Productivity
2. Reduced healthcare costs
3. Improve morale
4. Improved job satisfaction and less stress

What are some of the components of a Wellness Program?

• Wellness newsletter
• Health Risk Assessments
• Health Screenings
• Workshops on wellness issues
• Walking groups
• Fitness classes
• Smoking cessation classes
• Incentives like water bottles, insulated lunch bags, tote bags, stress balls, pedometers
• Design an employee "Healthy Recipes" book

Simple Ways to Get Started!

• Offer healthier choices in vending machines
• Encourage physical activity during breaks
• Design posters to encourage involvement and offer rewards

Larger companies might want to start an advisory committee to represent the interests from different levels (ie, employees, management, human resources, etc.). 

What's next?

1. Notify employees by hosting a kickoff event, display posters and flyers in break rooms, or include a payroll stuffer.
2. Pick a date to implement the program.
3. Evaluate the program.  This can be as simple as a review with your advisory committee or survey employees to get more of a primary response.

If you have more questions on how to start or implement a wellness program in your office, contact us today!