Employee Wellness Programs: Low-Cost Activities That Work

Employee Wellness Programs that support workers and the environment that they work in have been shown  to be a good return on investment. Employee Wellness Programs may be extensive and sometimes expensive.  However, there are ways for small companies to make positive changes at little or no cost.

Employee Wellness Program: Weight Management/Physical Fitness Activities

1. Give access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational activities before, during, and after  work hours.
2. Provide and encourage participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3. Provide cash incentives or reduced insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or  weight management or maintenance activities.
4. Provide shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5. Provide outdoor exercise areas such as fields and trails for worker use.
6. Provide bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7. Provide onsite fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8. Provide an worksite exercise facility.
9. Set up programs that have strong social support systems and incentives, such as:
o Buddy or team physical activity objectives
o Programs that involve workers and family
o Programs to encourage physical activity, such as pedometer walking challenges
o Consider discounted or subsidized memberships at local health clubs, recreation centers, or  YMCAs
10. Provide 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 workers 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. Provide exercise/physical fitness messages and information to workers.
17. Provide or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the  community.
18. Start worker activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Provide onsite child care facilities to facilitate physical activity.
20. Sponsor a bike to work day and reward workers who participate.
21. Set up a box and solicit fitness and health tips.

Employee Wellness Program: General Health Education Activities

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 workers to the Company Health and Wellness Program and give them copies of the physical  activity, nutrition, and tobacco use policies.
4. Promote and encourage worker participation in the physical activity/fitness and nutrition  education/weight management program.
5. Provide health education information to workers.
6. Have a committee that meets at least once a month to oversee the Employee Wellness Program.
7. Provide regular health education presentations on various physical activity, nutrition, and  wellness-related topics. Ask voluntary health associations, health 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 workers such as diabetics and nursing mothers.
10. Conduct preventive wellness screenings for blood pressure, body composition, blood cholesterol,  and diabetes.
11. Provide confidential health rist assessments.
12. Provide onsite weight management/maintenance programs for workers.
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. Provide prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3. Policy supporting participation in smoking cessation activities during duty time (flex-time).
4. Provide counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5. Provide counseling through a medical plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling  program.
6. Provide cessation medications through medical insurance.