Tip # 2 - Exercise
One way to kick the smoking addiction is to hit the gym. Every time you start to get a craving for a cigarette, go for a jog or lift some weights. Exercise can really help you out when you are overwhelmed and it is great for the body. Your entire body will feel rejuvenated after a workout and you will have more energy. Develop a good deep breathing habit. Deep breathing will be able to help you balance your emotions when you are trying to work through stressful situations or even daily life.

Tip # 3 - How addicted are you?
In order to successfully quit smoking, you need to determine how addicted you really are. The American Lung Association states that you are addicted to cigarettes if you smoke more than one pack a day or if you have to have it with a meal or during stressful situations. Count how many times you need to go outside for a smoke break during the workday. If you go out more than 2 times, you are addicted to smoking. If you really want to kick the smoking habit, you need to quit cold turkey. The programs that try to wean you off smoking don't always work and they make it harder for some people.

Tip # 4 - Watch out for food!
As people try to quit smoking, they often start snacking a lot because they have that need to put something in their mouth. If you catch yourself grabbing for some snacks, make sure they are healthy ones. Carrots and celery are excellent snack foods and they won't pack on the pounds like potato chips and candies. Get some gum and start chewing on it during stressful times. Hard candy can even help you when you have the need to smoke.

Since these employees are costing the company billions of dollars, it is important to talk to them about their lifestyle choices. Most employees are willing to improve their physical health, even if they move from the "obese" section to the "overweight" section. Even dropping 10 pounds will do wonders for your health. So how can employers inspire their employees to participate in wellness programs? There are a few routes you can take, the first route is to offer incentives to employees, and the second route is to threaten employees with higher insurance premiums and penalties for their lifestyle choices.

A lot of companies are taking route # 2 because this helps them to recoup some of the costs they are paying to the health and life insurance companies. Since these individuals are at an increased risk for so many health problems, insurance companies have found that they have a shorter lifespan. Many of the insurance companies may not even insure them due to their lifestyle choices. Other insurance companies will insure them, but they will charge them outlandish rates. The entire company will be placed into a high risk pool and everyone at the company will be forced to pay more money just to have insurance. This doesn't seem fair to the employees that are living active and healthy lifestyles. By telling your un-healthy employees that you plan to start taking more money from their paychecks, they may decide that it's not worth it to lose $100 or more a year because of their lifestyle choices. This may be the push someone needs to finally quit smoking or to drop 30 or more pounds.

Route # 1 is a great way to inspire employees to participate in wellness programs because everyone wants to get a reward for their efforts. Financial incentives are a great way to motivate people to start living a healthier lifestyle. You can even try offering time off work or increased responsibility with the company. Even giving employees an extra $25 a paycheck for living an active and healthy lifestyle will encourage their un-healthy co-workers to drop the weight or give up smoking.

Whatever route you take, you need to be a good support group for your employees. Changing your lifestyle is difficult, especially if you have lived this way for a long time. It takes a lot of dedication and motivation from your employees to quit smoking or to lose weight. By encouraging them and being there for them during frustrating times, you are showing them that you care about their physical and mental health. You might even consider offering free health checks once a year for your employees to show them your dedication to living a healthy lifestyle.

Expect your employees to participate. Leading by example is a great way to encourage healthy living among employees. Having a management team member lead the program is a perfect way to show employees that you "walk the walk" when it comes to protecting their health and the health of others.

Include mental health prevention. Not every problem at work stems from safety concerns. The mental and physical well-being of employees is just as important as working within safety regulations. Companies are more in tune with the emotional needs of their employees and have begun offering employee assistance programs that can include on-call counselors, stress relief and grief recovery programs.

Healthy living. Health awareness in the workplace can be a great and relatively cheap way to boost morale and productivity in the office. Employers are feeling the squeeze of the economy, and cutting back in order to save the business, but one area of utmost importance to both employers and their employees is staying healthy. Every year almost 22 million days of lost work are accumulated in the United States. Employees coming to work sick have an effect on everyone and hours of productivity can be lost when illness spreads around the workplace.
Friendly competition. A great new competition hitting the workplace is the organized weight loss competition. Team up and hold some of those employee activities for a little healthy competition. Sponsor a walking challenge to see who can walk the furthest in a given time frame or set up games that encourage physical strength or activity in the break rooms.
Reduce germs. Provide employees with an effective and convenient means of disinfecting their workspace. Disinfect everything that is touched regularly. Clean telephones, light switches, doorknobs, filing cabinets, keyboard and break areas frequently. Encourage washing hands regularly and the use of hand antiseptics. Viruses spread through the air and by touching any surface so minimizing the amount of germs on common areas will increase the health of your workplace.

Offer health advice. Invite a local hospital or medical clinic to a workplace health fair. Simple screenings for blood pressure, weight and diabetes can be an effective way to encourage employees to take care of themselves without added costs to them. Vendors such as nutritionists, health food stores and gyms can talk to employees about programs and products.
Walk away. A good walking program at work can be an excellent source of cardiovascular health, as it promotes weight loss, increases circulation, reduces stress, boosts energy levels rewards the walker with an extra two hours of life for every 30 minutes walked. Employees who walk at least 30 minutes a day find their stamina at the desk increases, focus is more acute and they tend to be healthier, saving their employer hours of sick leave and lowered productivity due to sickness.

Employers are realizing quickly that retaining healthy, happy employees is in itself a valuable commodity. More and more are working to offer creative benefits that will help retain quality employees without damaging the productivity bottom line. Safety and wellness are foremost in the minds of both employers and their employees. After all, having healthy, happy employees is in the best interests of everyone.

• Encourage use of sick time: For a minimal cost to the company, suggest employees stay home when they are sick, and support that policy. Employees who feel like they will not face discipline for taking time off when sick are more willing to use it sparingly and appropriately. The risk of infecting coworkers with colds and flu viruses is not worth the limited work a sick employee will accomplish by coming in.

• Health Awareness: Many employers offer yearly health fairs to teach employees about healthy lifestyles and training on preventing illness in the workplace. Vendors can educate employees on nutrition, diabetes, obesity, smoking cessation and many other preventable, but very serious health conditions. The added cost will be minimal compared to the hours lost by sick employees.
• Disinfect: Provide employees with an effective and convenient means of disinfecting their workspace. Disinfect everything that is touched regularly. Clean telephones, light switches, doorknobs, filing cabinets, keyboard and break areas frequently. Encourage washing hands regularly and the use of hand antiseptics. Viruses spread through the air and by touching any surface so minimizing the amount of germs on common areas will increase the health of your workplace.
• Emotional health of employees: Once a conversation not suitable in the corporate world, mental health is getting more attention as a real issue. Employers are extending their mental health services as research points to the increased costs associated with not dealing with common mood disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. It's easier to find employers who offer employee assistance programs that include on-call counselors, stress relief and grief recovery programs.
• Exercise and eat right: Encourage employees to participate in sponsored exercise programs or join a health club. Many athletic clubs offer reduced rates to employers who have multiple contracts. If you provide snacks at company sponsored meetings, choose healthy alternatives and have water readily available for your employees. Healthy employees equal less sickness in the office.
• Expect your employees to participate. Leading by example is a great way to encourage healthy living among employees. Having a management team member lead the program is a perfect way to show employees that you "walk the walk" when it comes to protecting their health and the health of others.

While it used to be considered the government's responsibility to make sure people stayed healthy through education and awareness, many employers are now moving towards the trend of protecting and preventing within so they can proactively maintain healthy, positive employees. Small, inexpensive additions can be brought inside the workplace to increase health, awareness and productivity and employers are seeing these lifestyle changes also increase their bottom line financially.

Since most careers of adult Americans cause people to sit in front of a computer, we are all at risk for medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Creating a wellness program at work can be the key to healthier employees and lower health care costs for employers. Walking, yoga classes, and on-site exercise facilities are just one way employers are encouraging their employees to get out of the office and start focusing on their health.

Employees who walk at least 30 minutes a day find their stamina at their desk increases, they are able to focus more acutely and they tend to feel better. Just walking alone can save their employer hours of sick leave and lowered productivity due to sickness. A good walking program at work can be an excellent source of cardiovascular health, as it promotes weight loss, increases circulation, reduces stress, boosts energy levels and rewards the walker with an extra two hours of life for every 30 minutes walked.

Walking also helps to reduce stress, a common problem in the workplace. When employees are under stress, they tend to use more sick leave and they also impact their co-workers with their bad attitudes and flustered personality. This can cause the overall production of your office to decrease and the employee morale will also decrease. Each year employers lose about 22 million hours in sick leave and lost production costs. You can combat this by creating time for your employees to relax. Encourage your employees to use one of their brisk to go outside and go for a brisk walk. You may even consider starting your staff meetings with a short yoga exercise before you dive into the deep concerns of the company. Small breaks that focus on relaxation can really help people calm down and reduce the stress in their lives.

Walking really is a great exercise for the body and it's easy to do. The benefits of walking include increased energy, stronger bones and muscles, enhanced mental well-being, improved immune system, better balance and coordination, reduced stress, and better weight maintenance. Studies show that low intensity activities can be just as effective in preventing medical problems as high intensity workout programs. Walking is a fun way to spend time with co-workers and it encourages a team-like atmosphere when everyone participates. Walking is great for small groups that need a change in environment to work on their problems. People can get outside and get the Vitamin D they need to rejuvenate their bodies. Even walking on a treadmill can improve your concentration and focus during the day. You may even consider holding a staff meeting in the gym and discuss matters while everyone is walking briskly.

When employers participate in the wellness programs with their employees, it encourages a team-like atmosphere and everyone will work together to improve their health. Always encourage your employees to participate in the wellness program because it is one of the best things they can do for their health.

• Encourage use of sick time: For a minimal cost to the company, this benefit can be the difference between healthy, happy employees, and lost man hours and high turn over. Benefits are being cut all the time from businesses as the economy slides. Employees are more likely to stay somewhere that they feel appreciated and supported through use of even small benefits like paid sick leave.
• Suggest employees stay home when they are sick, and support that policy. Employees who feel like they will not face discipline for taking time off when sick are more willing to use it sparingly and appropriately. The risk of infecting coworkers with colds and flu viruses is not worth the limited work a sick employee will accomplish by coming in.
• Health Awareness: Many employers offer yearly health fairs to teach employees about healthy lifestyles and training on preventing illness in the workplace. The added cost will be minimal compared to the hours lost by sick employees.
• Disinfect: Provide employees with an effective and convenient means of disinfecting their workspace. Disinfect everything that is touched regularly. Clean telephones, light switches, doorknobs, filing cabinets, keyboard and break areas frequently. Encourage washing hands regularly and the use of hand antiseptics. Viruses spread through the air and by touching any surface so minimizing the amount of germs on common areas will increase the health of your workplace.
• Minimize the cost of insurance: Easier said than done, we realize, but finding a good insurance program that is affordable for your employees will reduce the spread of infection in your office. Increased insurance costs can be daunting to employers and their employees. Get additional quotes each year from several insurance sources to make sure you're getting a fair price for your program. Find the program that's right for your employees by talking to them and your insurer.
• Emotional health of employees: Once a conversation not suitable in the corporate world, mental health is getting more attention as a real issue. Employers are extending their mental health services as research points to the increased costs associated with not dealing with common mood disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. It's easier to find employers who offer employee assistance programs that include on-call counselors, stress relief and grief recovery programs.
• Exercise and eat right: Encourage employees to participate in sponsored exercise programs or join a health club. Many athletic clubs offer reduced rates to employers who have multiple contracts. If you provide snacks at company sponsored meetings, choose healthy alternatives and have water readily available for your employees. Healthy employees equal less sickness in the office.

Not every suggestion will work in every work place, but taking time to find a few that will work for your business may just be the difference you need to increase productivity and maintain a stronger presence in an economy with slow progression.

Tip # 1 - Change the food
Why do people gain weight? Normally it is directly related to the food they are consuming. If you have vending machines that are filled with unhealthy snacks like candy bars, potato chips, and soda pops, replace them with healthier options. Most employees don't know it, but caffeine starts to break down your bone density; especially if you are consuming more than 2 sodas or 2 cups of coffee each day.

By removing the temptation of unhealthy foods in the office, you may help some people drop a few pounds. You can also talk to each of your employees about healthier eating options. Never encourage your employees to run to McDonald's or Burger King for lunch; always encourage people to bring their own food to work. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich may not taste as good as a cheeseburger, but it is a lot healthier. The peanut butter is also better for your body and will increase your energy.

Instead of potato chips and candy bars, fill the machine up with granola bars and fruit chips. The employees that like to snack out of comfort will not have a choice but to eat the new healthy food. If you have a cafeteria, start offering healthier selections like chicken salad and sandwiches.

Tip # 2 - Make time for exercise
Start offering yoga classes during the middle of the day. The employees should be able to get at least 20-30 minutes of physical exercise during their work hours. Make the exercise routine mandatory for employees. This will help to get some of the lazy employees off their chairs and onto to the yoga mat. There are other exercises you can offer during work hours that don't include a change of clothing; this is simple activities like walking or hiking. Putting in a small walking trail around your office can really get your employees outside where they will get some fresh air, Vitamin D from the sun, and some exercise.

When you offer on-site exercises for your employees, they will actually participate in them. If people know they can have 30 minutes a day to exercise or sit at their desk, most of them will opt for exercising. The average American wants to get in shape and improve their health. Encouraging exercise at the office is one of the best ways to help your employees get in shape and improve their health.

Tip # 3 - Ground Rules
If you have unhealthy employees at your office, tell them how much money they are actually costing the company. A lot of people don't realize that their lifestyle choices are actually costing their employer millions of dollars. You can even try threatening your employees with larger health care premiums that will be taken from their check if they refuse to get healthy.

Second, offer help and support as they quit smoking. A lot of people will smoke during times of stress or frustration. Teach them some deep breathing exercises that may help them get through the stressful moments. You may even consider having a 20 minute yoga class during your lunch hour to help your staff members that need a nice break from work.

Third, find out what your employees do on the weekends and after work. Some people are simply bored so that is why they started smoking. Other employees turn to smoking to fit in with their social group. If you can pinpoint the reason why they started smoking, you may be able to find alternatives that they can participate in so they will quit smoking. Have office parties after work or on weekends, encourage your employees to come and participate in games and other activities. For the employee that smokes out of boredom, this will reduce their temptation to turn to a cigarette when they are just sitting around.

Fourth, have your smoking employees fill out a survey that has some of the following questions:

• Do you smoke every hour or every other hour?


• Do you have the need to smoke at every meal?


• Do you find yourself smoking in social situations?


• Do you have other addictions that are linked to cigarette smoking?


• How many cigarettes do you smoke each day? Would you say you are addicted? (If you smoke a pack or more, you are addicted to cigarettes)


• Have you tried to quit smoking in the past?


• Are you open to alternative methods to quite smoking? (exercise, hypnosis, and acupuncture)

Fifth, you need to be a good support group for your employees. Even if you haven't smoked, you still need to sit down with your employees and listen to them as they vent their frustrations with quitting smoking. Some people may have an easier time and call give advice on how to help their co-workers that are trying to quit smoking. Once they have quit smoking for good, reward them with a financial bonus, lunch, or day off work. Make sure they know exactly how much you appreciate their dedication to a healthier lifestyle.

The American Lung Association has done several studies on smoking; recently they found that one in five deaths is caused from smoking. People that smoke will have a 7 year reduction in their life expectancy. Since smoking causes problems for several people, other insurance companies have started cracking down on it. Life insurance companies will charge more money to cover a smoker and they don't always give them the amount of coverage as their co-workers, especially if they have existing health conditions.

Rental and home owners insurance companies also charge more money if a smoker is employed at a company. The reason why they charge more money is because smokers increase the risk of accidents and fires. Even auto insurance companies will charge smokers more money because they tend to smoke while driving. Smoking is considered a distraction and they place smokers in a higher risk category for getting into auto accidents.

Another type of insurance you will pay more for is dental insurance. People that smoke have a handful of dental problems from bad breath to discolored teeth. Dental insurance companies won't cover some of the procedures the dentist may have to perform because the individual is a smoker. It may even be difficult to get dental insurance to start with.

With all the additional costs of smoking, it is a wonder why people still do it. Smoking alone costs you over $1,200 a year just to purchase the cigarettes. Then you need to pay for the trips to the gas station or grocery store to buy the cigarettes. In addition to the costs just to buy the cigarettes, you will decrease the value of your assets. Trying to sell your home will be hard because the smell of cigarette smoke will be embedded in the walls, even if you try not to smoke in the home.

Your car is another thing that will be difficult to sell because the smell of smoke sticks to the upholstery. Even the best cleaning company may not be able to get the smell of cigarette smoke out of your car and you will end up losing a lot of money on the car when you try to sell it.

People that smoke are often discriminated against when it comes to getting a job. Employers now have the right to refuse to hire a smoker because of the increased medical costs they bring to the company. The best option you have for your career and your wallet is to quit smoking. Your employers will respect you for it and you will have more money to spend on the important things in life.

Second, not only do employers need to pay more money in lost production costs, they need to pay more to dental insurance and health insurance companies. The smokers tend to have more visits to the dentist and constantly need cleanings and other procedures done. Smoking does cause the teeth to stain, so many smokers will ask for multiple teeth whitening procedures. Now, onto the health insurance amount you will pay for being a smoker. Employers normally pay a portion of your health insurance, but they will be placed into a higher-risk pool if you are a smoker. If they weren't in a high-risk pool, they would be paying less in health insurance and this money would probably wind up as a higher wage for you. Since there are a lot of smokers out there, employers have decided to start charging them more money for the health insurance costs. This means you will probably pay about 15 to 20 percent higher from your co-workers for the same insurance coverage.

Third, you also will end up paying more money in life insurance coverage. Since smokers are at an increased risk for lung disease and cancer, life insurance companies won't give them a full coverage amount or they will charge them more money than healthy people. Normally the life insurance rates double for employees that are smokers. If you get life insurance from your employer, this money will come right out of your paycheck. Again, this additional amount your employer is picking up could go to your income, but instead they are losing it to the insurance company because of your lifestyle habits.

Finally, as a smoker you will face discrimination in the office. Everyone will say they are nice and they don't discriminate, but they still do. People won't want to ride in your car, especially if you smoke. They probably won't go outside for walks with you because they worry that you will light up on the walk. It also makes the air in the office stink, so you may have a hard time finding someone to sit next to you during staff meeting. If you haven't given up smoking, now is the time to do it. Not only will you be doing your body a favor, you will be helping your career as well.

Overweight employees also hurt their co-workers. An employee that is in good health and doesn't have any major medical issues will pay more money for their health insurance because they have been placed into a pool with their obese coworkers. This is really frustrating for the individuals that only use their health insurance for annual check-ups and prescriptions. Since there are no clear rules on how the health insurance is pooled, it actually makes it easier for some people to be obese. The overweight employee is not punished for being obese, but their healthy coworkers are. This is an unfortunate situation for every company. To prevent healthy employees from being punished, several employers have begun implementing wellness programs. The wellness programs are designed to make the overweight employees lose weight and reduce the additional financial burden they place on their employer and co-workers.

How else can an overweight employee hurt their employer? One way is to take sick leave because this forces the employer to find a replacement while this person is out of the office. The training costs alone can cost the employer thousands of dollars. In addition to the training costs, the employer is also forced to deal with the lost production costs due to this employee that is out on sick leave or disability.

So if you haven't implemented a wellness program, now is the time. With a wellness program, the company will take responsibility for the employee. They will need to find ways to encourage them to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. Most companies will do this by forcing the overweight employees to pay additional health insurance costs, since they are the reason why the costs are higher to begin with. Other companies will take a different route, offering cash bonuses to employees that lose weight. Then there are the companies that use incentives like paid time off, weekend getaways or big financial bonuses for the employee that meets their weight loss goals.

Wellness programs are great, but they won't work without employee participation. A lot of overweight employees do not have the desire or willpower to start exercising. They do not care about the additional costs their employer has to pay and they refuse to do anything about their weight. The only route you can take with these employees is to hand them the bill and force them to pay more money for being overweight. Hire a counselor to come in and talk with your employees, they may be able to encourage them to do something about their weight issues.

Businesses have the right to fire an employee that has lied about smoking on their health insurance coverage forms. Employers also have the right to decline employment to people that smoke. The reason why so many businesses are against smokers is not only because of the health insurance costs, but also because smokers take about 8 more sick days annually from healthy employees that do not smoke. The cost of sick leave alone will cause an employer to lose thousands of dollars on lost production costs and wages.

Employers are forced to find other employees to cover their shifts when smokers call in sick for the day. If they cannot find another person to cover, they will need to take time away from their job to step into their role or they may need to ask other employees to fill in while they perform their job duties. If you have your healthier employees constantly pulling the extra weight of the smokers, it will start to wear on them and before you know it you will lose the healthy employees as well.

Home insurance companies will also charge you larger premiums if you are a smoker. The reason for this is because of the risk of a fire being started in your home due to a cigarette. This money will also be charged to your employer if they need to insure the building. If you quit smoking, they won't need to purchase as much coverage because the accident risk will be lower.

People that smoke also have increased dental problems. Normally people that smoke have yellow teeth because they have been stained from the smoke. People that smoke also have an increased risk of oral cancer and throat cancer. Smoking causes you to inhale several acids and chemicals, these harmful toxins pass right through your mouth and they start to break down the enamel on your teeth. As the enamel breaks down, your teeth are vulnerable to cavities and other tooth problems. Smokers also have problems with mouth sores and bleeding lips.

The cost of smoking really isn't worth it. Employers are paying about $3,400 extra for each employee that smokes. While this amount may not be a lot to larger companies, this can really hurt smaller companies that are trying to stay in business.

All of these costs will add up quickly and pretty soon you will start to get frustrated with your employees that smoke. If you are like most employers, you are probably looking for a way to cut costs. Insurance premiums always tend to be at the top of the list when companies search for ways to reduce costs. The good thing about having employees that smoke is that it is 100 percent controllable. Some health problems cannot be prevented, but smoking and obesity can. If you can convince your employees to live a healthier lifestyle, your health insurance premiums will go down. You will also see a decrease in the amount of sick leave that is used and workers comp claims.

If you have tried a wellness program and you still have employees that want to smoke, move onto another method, punishment. You can start charging your employees more money in health insurance costs if they smoke because they are the reason why you have to pay more money to begin with. Several companies have adopted this policy and it actually forces people to quit smoking. If you want to be really aggressive, you can charge your employees more money if they live with someone that smokes because they are constantly being exposed to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking and several healthy people actually have died as a direct result of second-hand smoke.

If you don't want to punish your employees, you can try using incentives to get them to live a healthier lifestyle. Incentives actually do work and people will do just about anything for them if they are good ones. Financial compensation is the number one incentive and it can easily get people to quit smoking, lose weight, or simply life a healthier lifestyle. If you implement a wellness program, spend a few hours talking about the health complications that come along with smoking and obesity. Show your employees stats about how much money the company pays jus to keep them employed. When people have physical data to look at, it will actually shock them how much money their lifestyle choices are costing the company. Education is the key to prevention and this may be the motivation they need to start living a healthy lifestyle.

Make sure you are a good support group for your staff members that decide to quit smoking. It is not easy to give-up something that has been part of their life so they will need motivation from you and their co-workers to push through the cravings and addiction to smoking.

Depression is characterized by feelings of loss of interest in nearly all activities at least 2 times a week. Other symptoms of depression include changes in appetite or weight, sleep; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plans or attempts; decreased energy; decreased attentiveness to oneself or to one's tasks; decreased ability to concentrate.

All of these symptoms can contribute to an employee's decreased productivity at work or increased absenteeism. Decreased work productivity or increased absenteeism all affect on employer in a negative way. Also, a depressed person may neglect his or her appearance and let assignments or projects slide. A person with depression may complain no "motivation." He or she may have particular difficulties getting activities started, which may lead to decreased production at work.

Depression often makes it difficult for a person to think through a problem and, thus, to initiate and complete a complex task. A depressed person may vacillate between choices to an unusual degree and may defer decision-making to others. This may be true even for simple decisions. These effects of depression may make it difficult for others in the work place to work with this type of a person especially in a team oriented type project.

Many depressed people often feel negative feelings like shame, humiliation, fear, denial, and anger. All of these feelings do not allow the depressed person the ability to reach out and ask for help. This may lead to difficulties for the depressed person at work, which in turn would affect the work of this person.

If an employer recognizes that depression is a true disease and offers employee assistance for such a disease, the employee that suffers from depression may find it easier to work in an environment that is conducive to his or her mental health. Employee health programs that include information regarding mental health illnesses that encouraged employees to discuss their illness and seek treatment for such an illness would also aid employees.

Prescription drug plans would also help employees in balancing employees' mental health. Depression is typically treated with drug called anti-depressants. Each individual is different, so there is no one drug to treat depression and many times individuals will have to try more than one prescription medication till a "good fit" is found. Prescription drugs are not cheap and if faced with a choice on how to spend ones money, many people choose to not fill prescription drugs. If an employee had a drug coverage plan under their employee health care benefits package, then the cost of the prescription medications would be much less. Decreased cost of medication would thus increase the chances that one would fill the prescription and take the medications as prescribed by their physician. Increased medication compliance would thus allow the employees mental health illness to be treated properly. If a mental health illness were treated properly, the employee would then be allowed to perform their job functions at an increased level, thus increasing work place productivity and decreased numbers of absenteeism from work. All of which means increasing productivity for ones employer.

Employees that exercise on a regular basis often have an increase in self-esteem and self-image. They are generally satisfied with their health and they have a positive energy and attitude about them.

What are the benefits of exercise for employers?
If you have been losing employees to sickness or you notice the overall productivity in the office decreasing, you need to start an exercise program. When you give your employees time to exercise, you will almost instantly notice increase employee productivity. This is because people have stronger immune systems and they are less likely to use their sick leave. The second reason is because they have more energy and do not need to use caffeine and other stimulants to stay awake at work.

Employers will also notice that their employees that exercise on a regular basis are able to cope with stress easier. Coping with stress will reduce personal attendance and employee performance because they do not get flustered and overwhelmed with their job. The other thing employers will notice is the impact healthy employees have on their co-workers. When people are happy about their jobs, they want to come to work. They have a desire to give their job 100 percent and this will reflect to the other employees. Pretty soon everyone at the office will try harder at their job. This improved employee morale is critical for your bottom line and it will help when you are trying to recruit new talent.

When people start exercising, they not only do better at their job, many of them start to show skills that you may not have seen before. Some of the best managers and business leaders are people that exercise on a regular basis and take good care of their bodies.

One of the biggest benefits of exercise for employers is the decreased medical costs they will have. When you have a staff full of fit employees, your health insurance premiums will be a lot less. This is because many health insurance companies will recognize the company's commitment to good health and they will offer discounts to them. The other reason why the costs are reduced is because the employees will not be using their health insurance as often, so this offsets all the health care costs.

If you haven't started a wellness program at your company, you need to start. The 3rd Wednesday of May is home to the largest work site health and fitness event in America sponsored by the National Association for Health and Fitness. This is a great day to kick-off your new wellness program to encourage your employees to exercise and start living healthy, active lifestyles.