Posts from — October 2010

Whether one owns a small family-run business or is the CEO of a big business, among the most important issues that employers absolutely need to address is employee health and safety.

While productivity and overall revenue is important, if the employees aren’t following safe practices and keeping themselves healthy, the result will eventually become a loss in earnings because of less productivity and compensation for sick days.

Every organization absolutely needs to begin written safety policies and procedures that are clear and understandable to the typical reader. Not only is this necessary for protecting the staff from harm, but having written policies also helps to protect the company against claims about the organization not following safe practices, or even worse, potential lawsuits.

A lot of organizations also understand that safety knowledge improves through ongoing training and inviting the workers to give input about safety practices.

Staff Members should also be encouraged to keep themselves healthy because an unhealthy employee causes more loss in revenue as a result of sick days. Clearly an business cannot determine what the employee will eat for lunch, but there are simple measures that an business can take to encourage healthier habits.

Providing healthier vending machine options, a tobacco-free environment, and even discounts on gym memberships might encourage healthier lifestyles.

While employee safety and health are very important aspects of a corporation, regretfully they’re often neglected until a problem arises. Companys need to be proactive about safety and health to protect themselves and their workers.

Safety training, stimulating breaks to take a walk, or compensating for employee gym memberships, will clearly cost the corporation money, but in the long term, this could be a great investment and a way to potentially cut costs as a result of health and safety issues in the future.

Organizations need to look at the big picture and how such simple measures can develop a more successful corporation.

What type of insurance is right for your company?

Companies have a few options when picking  an staff member medical insurance plan. There are numerous types of staff member medical insurance that may be bought for the organization. Catastrophic, federal, and small organization insurance plans all vary in cost and coverage.

Catastrophic health insurance plans, formerly known as high deductible insurance plans, have low premiums but high deductibles. You must reach the plan’s deductible before insurance will start paying. Deductibles could be as low as $5,000, and increase from there.

These plans save money for an business by decreasing the cost of employee health care and save money for individuals who rarely need medical care. However, for someone needing ongoing care or experiencing an unexpected illness, this plan can cost the employee a lot of money out of their own pocket.

Small organization employee health insurance could be more costly than bigger companies’ insurances. Nonetheless, insurance rates can decrease if employee safety and health increases. This is why employee health programs such as an onsite fitness center could be beneficial.

Nonetheless, small corporations can offer their workforce many of the same health plans, like Lifewise health insurance, as larger corporations offer.

Federal employee medical insurance is usually times among the best, all inclusive plans available. Federal employee health benefits often include low premiums, low co-pays, and even dental insurance PPO. Federal employee health benefits are not only open to federal workers, but also their families.

Having a superb worker medical plan can draw in certified job seekers to your company. When someone has received multiple job offers, his/her decision may come down to which company has the best benefits. Medical insurance is a major benefit to consider.

It’s in every company’s best interest to take worker health seriously. It might be the determining factor for an great worker considering multiple job opportunities.

Health promotion programs are designed to nurture wellness in staff, regardless of the work environment. Health promotion programs can be found in factories, corporate offices, big companies, and small companies alike.

The idea for these health promotion programs stemmed from a few different experiences, decades ago. Not only did businesss want to cut down on healthcare expenditures they were compensating for employees, but many forward thinking businesss wanted to make the work space a more inviting and relaxing environment for their employees as well.

Health promotion programs have evolved from offering exercise equipment on site for employees to utilize, to offering heart healthful options in the cafeteria, to even having available, a real individuals to talk with about health care needs.

None of these things are a substitute for routine medical checkups, but wellness programs are designed to make medical treatment and medication for personnel less needed.

There are different levels of wellness programs. One level is offering basic services and referrals online.  The Internet permits access to major sources of information, but many individuals  are confused about what information is reliable and where to find specific information resources.

Web-Based health promotion programs can be set up to allow personnel access to certain types of pre-screened information that is reliable and easy to find.

In addition to internet based tools, many health promotion programs can tailor resources and data to each worker. Treating each worker and their concerns sensitively and in a timely manner, can help them see the importance of their health issues as well.

Just because a personal has diabetes doesn’t mean they have all the most up-to-date information on how to best live with diabetes. Oftentimes, diet and exercise alone can control diabetes and eliminate the need for medication or more invasive treatments.

Health promotion programs are most successful when the employer and workforce are fully engaged in the health promotion program with good health in mind. A successful workplace is not about the bottom line alone. It also means building a safe and healthful workplace for each individual.

Health promotion programs have been on the rise the past 20 years for a selection of reasons. When a organization or small organization is considering implementing a wellness program, they’ll first obtain a few wellness quotes. Then the organization will partner with the wellness program to determine if the wellness program is a good fit for their workers.

Ordinarily, a business will consider if the wellness program is a good fit for their business based on size, reputation and overall experience. These quotes are not all about the financial aspect, but really what’ll benefit the overall health and wellness of the staff members and members.

Ideally, a health promotion program should offer its members the opportunity to prevent and manage long-term health risks.  An example of this would be weight loss management.

Not only is it cost effective to provide workers with exercise equipment or a health and fitness center membership to use, but it also provides education and support for weight loss and weight management. Making healthy food options and catering to those with special dietary needs would also be included in health education.

Considering that a high percentage of diseases are avoidable if diet and exercise are tied in with the workplace, a majority of diseases in that same workplace can be eliminated.

Health Promotion quotes should also include the ability of an staff member to self-monitor progress. It is a scientific fact that when adults can track their progress on any type of goal, they will be more likely to continue with that goal, even when it is an abstract goal, such as energy level.

Wellness quotes cannot tell an employer when a health promotion program are going to be a good fit for its workforce. That is something for the employer, staff and potential health promotion program coordinator to determine.

The concerns of all parties must be taken into consideration to ensure a good match for life-long wellness.

Ways organizations can increase company wellness participation

Worker health promotion programs are crucial that you worksite benefits. However, they do not make any difference when your workforce are not participating. Does your business have an staff member health promotion program that seems to be failing as a result of lack of participation? If so, there are creative ways that you can motivate your workforce to take control of their health, and participate in the health promotion program.

Giving health promotion program materials upon sign-up is a excellent way to show workforce that the business acknowledges and encourages their wellness efforts. Receiving free health promotion program materials, such as pedometers and exercise guides, will boost participation for workforce with little time or money.

These health promotion program materials can be quite inexpensive when bought in bulk. Plus, the company will still be saving money because their personnel are going to be getting fit and there are going to be less sick days taken.

The toughest times when starting a new exercise regimen, are at six weeks and six months. When a individuals could make it to the six week point when starting to exercise, they’re more likely to continue. Those first six weeks are very critical.

After exercisers have made it past the six week mark, many stick with their fitness routine until six months, at which point they often become bored or lose motivation. During these two vital times it’s essential that workforce have motivation to continue. One way to celebrate participants’ successes is to recognize their achievements through incentives.

Incentives such as a celebration banquet, certificate of achievement for making it past six weeks or six months and even cash incentives, work well to increase morale and increase participation. Worker health promotion programs that stay involved by checking in on participants, stimulating and rewarding them, often see better results.

When your corporation is struggling to raise participation in the worker wellness program, take a good look at how involved the employer is in the process. Offering start-up materials and continued support will get more people  on board and keep employees focused on fitness.

Precisely how does a health promotion program affect the organization?

Health promotion programs undoubtedly benefit both the businesss and employees. Numerous studies have found a direct link, showing that healthy employees make happy employees, accordingly increasing productivity in the worksite.

Not only are staff who exercise more apt to be productive, but they’re more likely to stay with their corporation long term. This saves corporations a great deal of money in application and turnover costs.

Health Care costs in the USA doubled between 1990 and 2001. They’re expected to double again by 2012. During this time, studies have shown that adult obesity has risen as high as 80% in some states. This is a startling statistic. for every 1% in BMI, a person’s healthcare costs increase by $120.

Not only is this expensive for the company but it can also be deadly, greatly raising one’s chances of heart attack or stroke. Employees at risk for these two serious medical conditions cost companys thousands of dollars more annually than their healthy peers.

Knowing these troubling statistics authorizes corporations to take action.  The first step is to come up with a plan on how to fight these statistics in your worksite. Most adults in this country spend the majority of their time at work.

That is why wellness programs are so essential. Having access to an fitness facility and other healthful lifestyle choices ought to be implemented in every company. There really is no reason not to.

One study showed that starting a health promotion program in the workplace, reduced sick leave by 28%, reduced the use of health care benefits by 26%, and reduced employee’s compensation claims by 30%.

Take a good look at some of these statistics. Your organization cannot afford not to have a wellness program.

How can our business increase participation in the company wellness program?

Having a company wellness program in place can improve morale, improve health and fitness and increase productivity in the worksite. Now that you have taken the steps necessary to implement a company wellness program, how do you get your workforce interested and willing to participate?

By starting healthful eating habits, exercise and offering incentives, your workforce will not only sign up for the health promotion program, but they will stick with it.

Does your organization have an onsite health club that staff members have access to? When not, offering free or discounted health club memberships to a local health club can be an effective method for getting staff members to exercise. Whether or not the health club is on or off-site nevertheless, allowing staff members to use the facility during work hours, like on their lunch break, will increase the likelihood that they will exercise.

Rewarding employees’ achievements is another way to keep them aroused and living a healthy lifestyle. Setting business goals such as collectively walking a certain number of miles, supports team building. Offering incentives such as gift cards, certificates of achievement, and even a day off work may be effective ways to keep participation levels up.

Since there will likely be less sick days being used as a result of disease, your corporation might  be able to afford to offer a day off pass as an incentive. These incentives do not have to be expensive, just valuable to the worker.

Providing a healthy lunch once a week for employees participating in the corporate health plan, is a excellent way to promote healthy eating. Offering an incentive of healthy, scrumptious, free food is one way to reward employees for their efforts while supporting their new healthy lifestyle.

Having a company wellness program in place will provide long term benefits to both the company and the workforce. This is one corporate plan that is certainly worth your time and money!

Why should our organization host a company wellness fair?

Do you work in your organization’s human resources (HR) department? Are you looking for events to plan for your organization this year? If so, it would be a great idea to look into hosting a company wellness fair. Corporate wellness fairs are valuable to both the employer and the worker because they promote overall health, awareness and prevention.

What type of providers are at a wellness fair?

There are lots of providers to pick from when bringing a company wellness fair to your corporation.  The most well-liked providers include dentists, massage therapists, chiropractors, nutritionists and the American Red Cross. These few well-liked providers are a part of a long list available to attend wellness fairs.

Precisely how do we choose which vendors to include in the health fair?

While most vendors are excellent for all workforce, there are some vendors available for corporations with a specific demographic. for  instance, when your company has a lot of pregnant women or women of child bearing age, it could be a good idea to have a vendor particularly talking about prenatal care.

If there are a lot of smokers at your company, you may want to have the American Lung Association present. Try to select providers that meet your employees’ needs. Don’t forget that hosting a company wellness fair is meant to be beneficial to them.

When should we hold a health fair?

Anytime is a excellent time to host a health fair. Nevertheless, you may want to consider not scheduling around holidays or busy seasons so that you can maximize participation. Another excellent choice is having the corporate health fair on a weekend and making it family friendly. Corporate health fairs help keep everyone healthful, consequently increasing work productivity.

Not only does hosting a corporate health fair promote health, it also builds friendship between colleagues, bettering team building and communication in the office. It is a win-win for both the business and the employee!

Wellness programs have been proven to decrease rates of absenteeism, employee turnover rates, and health care costs. It is a key piece of a corporation’s success.  The results of these wellness programs lead to higher productivity, which in the end leads to a more profitable company.

In order for these wellness programs to run properly and produce results they must have a clear operating plan with an attainable and measurable goal.  The wellness programs must also encourage all staff members to lead a healthful lifestyle while at work and at home.

Health promotion programs have been introduced to organizations all over the United States in an effort to make personnel healthier and in turn happier. Organizations which implement these health promotion programs do so to varying degrees. Some simply offer literature about how to live a healthy lifestyle and reduce stress while at work.

Some businesses offer health testings and health risk assessments for free during the year to help employees understand what’s going on with their health and what they are able to do to improve it.

At the top of the list, there are the organizations which offer free, onsite fitness centers and aerobics programs to be used at lunch breaks or after work. No matter what is offered it’d be a waste not to take advantage of these wellness programs.

It requires cautious planning and thought to start health promotion programs. Once a health promotion program is put into place it’s very crucial that you reassess and analyze it several times in order to reach the main goal –  healthier workforce.

All the wellness programs that are put in place should be assessed after a determined time frame to help the organization understand what needs to be changed or kept in place to maintain company wellness.

Everybody knows today that working in corporate America could be a stressful situation. It seems that staff members are expected to work longer hours and spend more time away from home. Long commutes and big amounts of work are taking its toll on American office employees. Something should be done; organization wellness is a good way to begin to help all those stressed out employees.

Beginning organization wellness programs can help develop a healthy culture. There should be an incentive program set up to drive interest to wanting to be more health conscious. Making good decisions that affect health now and in the future should be rewarded as individual’s objectives are met.

There are a number of wellness program ideas that a corporation wellness program can help plan for. Some ideas include giving out maps of walking or jogging trails located near the workplace. It is a good idea to post a steps accumulated map on the workplace wall where all employees can log their steps or miles.

Be sure to help encourage walkers, joggers,, and those who enjoy other forms of exercise to form exercise groups to meet before work, at lunchtime, or after work.

In a company environment, relationship development is also an area where aligning cultural touch points are necessary. Make certain to work culture affects health practices.

Employees will either form personal relationships in a bad way, like tobacco use in the break room, or they’ll form relationships doing something more physical like going for a round of golf for relaxation and developing friendships with fellow workers. Be sure to work ought to be done to develop healthful venues to develop expert friendships and relationships.

There are so many good benefits for a organization picking  to make organization wellness a priority. Staff Members who participate in wellness programs are more likely to be the best staff members.

Peer relationships in the worksite are crucial to building a healthful lifestyle culture that lasts.  As an added bonus, overall job satisfaction is better when staff members are feeling well and healthful while doing their work.