Wellness Programs A to Z

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

Worksite Wellness Program: Physical Fitness/Weight Management Activities

1. Grant 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 onsite fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8. Make available an onsite exercise facility.
9. Set up programs that have strong social support systems and incentives and rewards, such as:
o Buddy or team physical activity goals
o Programs that involve workers and family
o Programs to encourage physical activity, such as pedometer walking challenges
o Explore 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 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. 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 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.

Worksite Wellness Program: General Health Education Activities

1. Have a current policy outlining the requirements and functions of a broad-based worksite Worksite Wellness Program.
2. Have a wellness plan in place that addresses the purpose, nature, duration, resources required, participants in, and expected results of a worksite Worksite Wellness Program.
3. Orient workers to the Worksite 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 Worksite Wellness Program.
7. Make available regular health education seminars 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. Make available confidential health rist assessments.
12. Make available onsite weight management/maintenance programs for workers.
13. Add weight management/maintenance, nutrition, and physical activity counseling as a member benefit in health insurance contracts.

Worksite 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 smoking 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 health plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling program.
6. Make available cessation medications through health insurance.