Wellness Programs A to Z

Can a small business support company wellness? Absolutely! In fact, in some ways it’s easier to create a healthy workplace in a small business than in a big business.

Limited resources, in particular in small organizations, can prevent an company from setting up a health promotion program. Reasons can include –

• lack of budget resources;

• lack of staff;

• lack of senior-level support;

• little knowledge of the wellness theory and;

• concern about making wellness available to all personnel.

As reported by the Health Promotion Councils of America, some small company owners might have the wrong idea of what’s involved in having a health promotion program.

Some employers aren’t sure a health promotion program would really work and others feel that attempting to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.  

Perhaps they do not understand that it does not need to be expensive and that they do not need special staff. They could not realize that some staff would like to see some healthful changes and would help make things happen in their workplace.

It can be Done

Many small organizations have found ways to have a health promotion program that works for them. They keep the cost and effort to a minimum and still have results that are positive for everyone.

In 2006, Graham Lowe wrote a report on the best places to work in Calgary. He said that healthful workplaces often have a “positive workplace culture”.  In a workplace with a positive culture, individuals  feel appreciated, valued, and trusted.

Dr. Lowe says it’s easier for a small workplace to have a positive workplace culture than for a big workplace. Many employees prefer to work for a small company, he says, because it provides more opportunities to work closely with others and develop a sense of community.

In his report, Dr. Lowe says the most successful organizations with fewer than 100 employees have –

• excellent staff member benefits;

• policies that promote a balance between work and personal life;

• flexible schedules;

• competitive salaries;

• excellent leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;

• environmentally responsible organization policies;

• procedures for seeking employee input; and

• A focus on placing employees’ personal well-being ahead of the personal gain of organization leaders.

All or most of these elements are also components of a good wellness program.

Tips and Ideas

There are lots of ways to include wellness in a small company. You don’t necessarily need a wellness professional or a fancy health and fitness center.

What you do need is support from senior management and a committee of a few committed individuals . Here are some ideas that your worksite can consider.

Communications and Promotion

• Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter in hard copy or online. Or send out a simple message such as the weekly Healthful U Hot Tip.

• Use promotions that are already designed like Healthful Workplace Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

• Make sure to encourage staff to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing competition.

• Get pedometers for workers and track their steps.

• Rent a nearby school or community fitness center and offer exercise classes.

• Hire a local fitness instructor to give classes or lead stretch breaks. Costs could be shared with staff.

• Install secure bicycle parking.

• Serve healthful alternatives at organization meetings and lunches.

Policy and Organizational Programs

• Hire an ergonomics professional to assess workstations.

• Create policies to support work-life balance (for example, mandatory vacations, flextime, limits to work and e-mail on personal time).

• Give a wellness subsidy for a variety of health and leadership activities and courses.

• Offer financial incentives to be healthy.

• Make available wellness incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.

• Conduct an organizational health audit (NQI Healthy Workplace Week).

• Become a partner with the community (for example, daycare, fitness centers, festivals, parks, restaurants).

• Spread the workload. Make sure to set up a wellness committee.

Small companies might not have a lot of time, money, or HR available for a wellness program. But they often have a immense advantage over big companies-a positive worksite culture.

That is a great foundation for a wellness program. When employees are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more productive, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small corporations can develop successful wellness programs.

Get support from management, form a committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!