Do You Know that...

• The U.S. spends $2.5 trillion annually on health care (Dept of Health & Human Services)
• Of the $2.5 trillion spent, between 70% to 75% is spent on treatable conditions
• Companies which invest in wellness programs gained a 200% ROI (Fidelity Investments)
• Corporate wellness programs have shown a savings to cost ratio of $3 for each dollar invested
• Offering incentives increases participation at a minimum of 60% (Incentive Research Foundation)
• Less than one in five employees will participate in wellness programs that do not offer rewards

 

Types of Wellness Programs

In business, a wellness program is an employee program that emphasizes health and well being, thereby minimizing the occurrence of sickness, through an organized or structured program or set of activities.  Businesses may decide to include many different activities, events, and information as part of an overall wellness program, or a business may choose to adopt a simplified wellness approach. For example, here is a list of different types of wellness activities and events which your wellness program could incorporate:

Fitness Challenges

Walking Clubs

Health Education

Preventative Screenings

Stress Management Seminars

Nutrition Building

Safety Awareness

Anti-tobacco/alcohol campaigns

Your wellness programs can be focused on areas which are of unique concern for you depending on the demographic makeup of your group. Schools are going to want to promote a plan that teaches nutrition and safety.  A predominantly female based work group might benefit from wellness programs focused on womens health issues, such as heart health and breast cancer awareness.  More and more of the population, men and women, are suffering from obesity and, to that end, health and wellness programs that support nutrition, exercise and fitness, are excellent approaches.

 

Workplace Wellness Terms

Workplace Health Assessment a process of gathering information about the factors that support and/or hinder the health of employees at a particular workplace and identifying potential opportunities to improve or address tem.

Workplace Health (Wellness) Coordinator an individual who is responsible for the administration and management of the workplace health promotion program.

Workplace Health Informatics  the design, use, maintenance, and evaluation of communications, surveillance and information systems for the collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data that can be used for the planning implementation and evaluation of workplace health programs.

Workplace Health Programs refers to a coordinated and comprehensive set of strategies which include programs, policies, benefits, environmental supports and links to the surrounding community designed to meet the health and safety needs of all employees.

Source:  www.cdc.gov

 

Five Things Wellness Programs Should Have

1)    Assessment:  Begin any wellness effort with an analysis of the key health and fitness issues faced by employees that incur health care costs and productivity loss for employers.

2)    Buy In:  Before a wellness program begins, managers must be informed and onboard, and then employees must understand what will be expected of them.

3)    Kick off:  A wellness program needs a starting point.  Create an event, or promotional giveaway that clearly signals the beginning of the wellness program to employees.

4)    Appropriate Rewards and Recognition:  Imprinted gifts can be used to help employees reach their goals, such as imprinted pedometers for a fitness program.  They can also be given out to celebrate a milestone, eg. Reaching A Mile a Day. Higher value incentives can be used for final or larger goal achievements.

5)    Evaluation and Celebration:  Plan an awards ceremony at the close of a program. Be sure to include quantifiable results that show the value of the effort.