Workplace Wellness Programs & Activities

A get-fit challenge can help your employees get healthy.

Healthy employees are a benefit to employers: the better their health, the fewer sick days they take and the better they are able to perform. When you want to help your staff stay in the best health possible, a workplace wellness program can be a useful and effective tool. With fewer days out of the office, you can save on sick pay and lost productivity.

Kick Unhealthy Habits

Let your employees know that you are watching out for their health and well being by helping them kick unhealthy habits. Enlist a coach for a program to stop smoking, for example, or replace candy-filled vending machines with healthier options to encourage nutritional snacking. To determine what your staff wants to stop, hold a meeting to talk through the habits they'd most likely eliminate. By involving employees in the process, you can create a sense of ownership and show them that you are willing to take feedback and input.

Get-fit Challenge

At any given time, many people would like to be fitter or lose a few pounds. To help them along the path, set up an office get-fit challenge. Invite employees to participate in a six-month program to revamp their eating habits, lose a specific amount of weight or complete a physical challenge. Set a start date, organize training and workout groups for support and bring in a professional to help design individual training programs. Offer prizes at the end for people who achieve their goals.

Incentive Program

To encourage small lifestyle changes that will help your employees get healthier, create a system of incentives. Create a list of activities, like going to the gym every day for a week, trying a new sport or cutting sugar out for a month. Assign points to each item. When employees hit certain point levels, reward them with incentives like gift cards, gym memberships, theater tickets or even cash prizes. By offering small, doable steps and tangible rewards, you can inspire staff to participate.

Alternative Transportation

If your company is centrally located for a large number of staff, start a "ditch the car" program. Offer rewards to employees who agree to leave their car at home and choose an active method like walking or biking. To make it possible for your employees to work up a sweat and still be presentable, install showers and lockers in your building. Include hair dryers and curling irons for women and provide soap and shampoo to make the process more attractive. By getting employees to choose a human-powered way to work, you can encourage healthier lifestyles, wake them up in the morning and reduce your carbon footprint.

References

• QuintCareers.com: Workplace Wellness Programs A Winning Idea in Which Employees Acquire Better Health While Employers Receive Higher Productivity... and Perhaps Both See Lower Healthcare Bills
• Entrepreneur: Wellness Programs