Workplace Wellness Programs: Low-Cost Activities That Work
Workplace Wellness Programs that support workers and the environment that they work in have been shown to be a good ROI. Workplace Wellness Programs can be extensive and sometimes costly. However, there are ways for small companies to make positive changes at little or no cost.
Workplace Wellness Program: Physical/Weight Management Activities
1. Give access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational activities before, during, and after work hours.
2. Make available and encourage participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3. Make available cash incentives or lowered insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or weight management or maintenance activities.
4. Make available shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5. Make available outdoor exercise areas such as fields and trails for worker use.
6. Make available bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7. Make available workplace fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8. Make available an worksite exercise facility.
9. Set up programs that have strong social support systems and rewards, such as:
o Buddy or team physical activity goals
o Programs that involve employees 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. Make available 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 workplace 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. Make available exercise/physical fitness messages and information to workers.
17. Make available or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the community.
18. Create worker activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Make available workplace 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.
Workplace Wellness Program: General Health Education Activities
1. Have a current policy outlining the requirements and functions of a broad-based worksite Workplace Wellness Program.
2. Have a wellness plan in place that addresses the purpose, nature, duration, resources necessary, participants in, and expected results of a worksite Workplace Wellness Program.
3. Orient workers to the Workplace 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. Make available health education information to workers.
6. Have a committee that meets at least once a month to oversee the Workplace Wellness Program.
7. Make available regular health education presentations on various physical activity, nutrition, and wellness-related topics. Ask voluntary health associations, medical care providers, and/or public health agencies to offer workplace 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. Make available confidential health risk appraisals.
12. Make available workplace weight management/maintenance programs for workers.
13. Add weight management/maintenance, nutrition, and physical activity counseling as a member benefit in health insurance contracts.
Workplace Wellness Program: Tobacco Cessation
1. Establish a company policy prohibiting tobacco use anywhere on the property.
2. Make available prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3. Policy supporting participation in tobacco cessation activities during duty time (flex-time).
4. Make available counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5. Make available counseling through a medical plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling program.
6. Make available cessation medications through health insurance.
