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What issues must be targeted in a wellness program?
An in house workplace wellness program should be tailored to meet the needs and wants of the employees as well as help your business cut costs from the bottom line. It should take into account the issues currently affecting your employees as well as the size of your business. In order to put together a good wellness program, your business should look at some of the following components:
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1. Health Risk Assessments:
2. Employee Health Screenings:
3. Education:
- Substance Abuse
- Cholesterol Management
- Hypertension Management
- Diabetes Management
- Women's Health / Men's Health
- Mental Health / Stress Management Programs
- Cancer Prevention Programs
- Time Management Skills
- Asthma Management Programs
- Allergy Programming
4. Physical Activity Programs:
- Tobacco Cessation (Smoking Cessation) Programs:
- Weight Management Programs:
Obesity and its' related diseases and medical problems are the cause of millions of hours of lost productivity and workers compensations claims. Using nutritional guidelines, health assessments and support groups, these programs can be very effective at helping both the bottom line of the scale and the work budget. There is no doubt that tobacco cessation programs are needed and that even if only a small percentage of participants quit and stay quit, the financial ROI is amazing. The average smoker attempts quitting 7 times before they are able to let go. As the number one preventable medical problem facing Americans, smoking is also a huge cost in insurance, medical bills and absenteeism.
Promoting increased physical activity is the most effective way to improve overall health. Focusing efforts on keeping your employees motivated and moving is extremely important. Some events associated with this component include community walk a thon sponsorships, offering free pedometers to employees, encouraging use of stairs over elevators and doing organized yoga or exercise classes together. Medical self-care is the newest sector that is proving to improve outcomes in wellness. Medical self-care programs are aimed at lowering the demand for health care by improving employee decision making skills as related to health care and quality of the self-care skills they practice. It also increases effective communication skills around health care providers so they can be better informed about their potential choices and options for medical care. Some self-care programs might include: offering CPR classes and routine blood pressure screens.
Health and wellness classes on nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management and other topics are popular choices for 4-8 week set classes. These classes allow participants to learn about the base of the issue and gain an understanding for what causes it and how to change. Holding contests or specialized campaigns to provide employees with the opportunity to try out new activities within a structure setting and the support of an organized event. They are most effective when geared towards a broad group of people. Wellness coaching or support for a specific group of people who are high risk, or are working towards a common goal is a great way to motivate employees to make positive changes and stick with them. Coaches can help employees explore personal health goals, options for delivery methods and help them identify and break down barriers to their plans.
- Blood Pressure Screening
- BMI / Body Composition Screenings
- Hearing Screening
- Vision Testing
- Cholesterol Screening / Lipid Profile Screenings
- Glucose Tests
- Bone Density Tests
- Onsite Mammograms
- Immunizations and Flu Shots
Have guest speakers come in and talk to your employees about the dangers of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions that are threatening most Americans. This is a good way to educate them and it may give them the motivation they need to get in shape.
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