How to help your employees be healthier

Business owners of every size of company are beginning to realize the importance of keeping their employees healthy. Sick days and the resulting problems from sick employees are a major cost to businesses everywhere. In addition, sick employees mean higher health insurance premiums, so it becomes apparent that keeping employees healthy is in everyone best interest.

With health care costs rising so sharply, companies will need to be able to plan and adapt. Those businesses that fail to respond this change in the market, will find themselves left behind with skyrocketing health care costs and employees who choose to work elsewhere. Savvy business owners are seeing the benefits of instituting an employee wellness program. These programs work to help employees stay healthy and product. Business owners are seeing the results with less absenteeism and lower costs for their health care.

Recent surveys are showing that more and more businesses are implementing employee wellness programs. These health related strategies are paying off in big ways, including higher productivity and lower overall costs. Studies that are done employee wellness programs are showing a high return on investment, for every dollar that is spent in these efforts.

While larger businesses may have the upper hand in developing more extensive programs, because of more money to spend, the good news is that even smaller businesses can make some giant strides in promoting healthier employees. Smaller businesses are just forced to use more creativity and planning, when putting together an employee wellness program. The bottom line is that you don't have to have a big budget or a full-outfitted gym, in order to promote employee health. There are many ideas that will work for businesses of every size. Fitness and nutritional experts recommend implementing even just a few of these ideas to help get your employees on the road to health-

• Incorporate exercise into the work culture-You can add incentives, rewards and set up goals for your employees to reach. You can offer a reimbursement for a gym membership or set up walking paths around your office. Some companies have gone as far as setting up bikes that can be ridden on breaks or offering hour long classes during the day, for employees to attend. Whatever you need to do to get people moving can pay off in big dividends.


• Have the right foods-Employers are helping their staff stay healthier by stocking their break rooms with healthier foods. Some employers are replacing the junk food that is normally found in vending machines, with fruits, juices, granola bars and other healthier treats. At some businesses water bottles are offered instead of soda, and employees can get in on the movement by attending nutrition or cooking classes that will help them manage what they are eating.


• Make it part of the benefits-For employees who want their staff to determine their own wellness program, some companies are offering a monetary benefits that can be applied toward anything that is health related. For example-Some companies are offering up to $500 dollars toward gym memberships, weight loss programs, or even fitness clothes. Employees simply bring in the receipts to be approved for the benefit.


• Keep the lines of communication open-For extremely small companies, the benefits may be more of an education. Educating your employees about health and fitness issues can be as simple as sending out newsletter and inserts in paychecks. Studies have shown that when an issue (of any kind), is constantly being pushed to the forefront, employees are much more likely to act on it, even if it is all self-motivated. Employers can also bring in health care organizations to help educate their staff about the importance of maintaining health and fitness.