Getting Healthy
Increasingly, businesses and health insurance providers are trying to find ways to motivate at-risk persons to be more proactive with their health care. This movement may be partially fed by an altruistic desire, but several studies point to increased financial performance when the workforce is healthy.
The Wellness Council of America has published a report that details the 10 most important factors to a successful wellness program. This report was designed with small businesses specifically in mind. The ten to-do’s for a successful program are as follows:
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Supportive CEO – If management doesn’t buy-in and show active support, then the employee base will not either.
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Program champion/guru – This individual will be the “personal trainer” for the organization and will have the ability to help people with their efforts and get them involved in the program.
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Initial health survey – gives important insight into what matters to the employees; what concerns do they have about their health.
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Physical activity – Provide opportunities that encourage activity regularly in the workplace
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Eating education – Include activities or methods that will educate employees on healthy eating habits and be sure that food offered in the workplace matches what you are teaching
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Convenient information – Provide access to reading materials or other self-regulated tools that will continue the education process
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Health newsletter – Present the ongoing results or success stories as a periodic newsletter
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Company health policies – Include health policies as a part of the company procedures and policies
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Community health events – Take an active role in community activities as participant and partner
The full free report can be downloaded from the WELCOA website. Other organizations have also weighed in on wellness programs. The Microsoft Small Business Center (page may need to be refreshed) effectively summarizes the WELCOA report and gives a real example. According to PreventDisease.com , absenteeism, productivity, morale, and health costs may be positively impacted by successful wellness programs. And Workforce Management recently reported that the show The Biggest Loser embodies a successful wellness program by providing desirable incentives, support groups, and ongoing education.
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