Wellness Continuity

If workers don’t have the tools to pursue health and wellness on a Personal level, then it becomes easy for them to “fall off the wagon” and slide back into a unealthy lifestyles. If you have a walking program, for example, it should encourage workers to build walking routes near their homes, perhaps with the cooperation of the neighborhood association or coworkers who live in the neighborhood. 

Workplace Health Promotion Programs: Always on Your Mind 

Your Workplace Health Promotion Program coordinator should have “vacation wellbeing” as part of their job description. In other words, you don’t want a Workplace Health Promotion Program to stop at the boundaries of the workplace campus. Instead, integrate Personal health and wellness with your Workplace Health Promotion Programs. 

This will benefit the Workplace Health Promotion Programs in two ways: 

it lowers the chance that the staff member will come back to the office feeling unfit, overwhelmed and unable to resume their Workplace Health Promotion Programs; and

it shows that their employer is just as invested in their Personal health and wellness as they are 

Like a marathon, Personal health and wellness is a long-term venture and it’s challenging for anyone to do in isolation. Simply put, it’s easier to maintain your state of health when you know others are depending on you and watching your Personal performance. It’s easier to stick to an exercise program when you have a jogging partner who wakes you up when you oversleep, or spots you when you’re lifting weights. 

Similarly, it’s easier to stick to your Workplace Health Promotion Program when you know your employer is supporting you and wishing you the best. 

Don’t Dictate Personal Health 

Just as Wellness surveys serve a vital function in building a Workplace Health Promotion Program, it’s imperative that you involve workers in designing an off-site wellness strategy. No one enjoys being told what to do, but everyone enjoys having assistance in tacking tough problems. Make it clear that workers are in charge of their own health and wellness. Your role as their health management partner is to support, advise, counsel, provide resources and information. 

Of course, don’t forget that part of Personal health and wellness responsibility is to provide good health risk assessment baselines so workers can proceed safely on the road to better physical fitness. 

Was Wellness on your organization’s new year’s resolutions list? Here we are a little over midway into the third month of 2008, the time when resolutions start to falter if they haven’t lost momentum completely. Has your Worksite’s wellness resolution fallen by the wayside? If so, there are still ways to get back on track.

One Wellness tip comes to us from the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, reported from the Jersey Shore. Rod Shirk, the YMCA’s chief financial officer, participated in the organization’s first executive Workplace Health Promotion Program, which registered his cholesterol as higher than normal. That prompted him to get a physical, which showed high levels of a prostate-specific antigen that often indicates prostate cancer. The outcome? His doctors caught a life-threatening illness just in time.

Thanks Workplace Health Promotion Program.

So of course, Shirk is a huge proponent of Workplace Health Promotion Programs. He says, “For us here at the YMCA, if we are telling people to be healthy, we had better set a good example for our workers.”

Wellness Decreases Health Care Costs

Though cases like Shirk’s dramatic cancer save are the most desirable effect of Workplace Health Promotion Programs, it isn’t the initial draw for businesses. They do it to reduce health care costs, and there’s no doubt that Workplace Health Promotion Programs do just that. Workplace Health Promotion Program Statistics show that Workplace Health Promotion Programs return anywhere from $2.30 to $10.10 per dollar spent on wellness. “Health care costs should go down as people think about changing their diets and getting more active,” Shirk says.

The Workplace Health Promotion Program savings aren’t just in the Health Insurance department. Human resource departments report that Workplace Health Promotion Programs also reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.

Still, businesses have been loath to invest that elusive Wellness dollar despite the well-documented returns. A Principal Financial Group and Harris Interactive survey found that only 10% of small- to medium-size businesses have made on-site Health Testings – like the one that saved Shirk’s life – available to their workers.

Wellness incentives may seem like an effective way to get workers excited about Workplace Health Promotion Program – but is it smart? 

This helps and encourages businesses to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy staff members, not only for the welfare of its workers, but as well as the welfare of the corporate bottom line … then, yes, it could be necessary. 

Tax Breaks as Wellness incentives 

In 2007, two senators decided to band together to create the “Healthy Workforce Act.” This act is designed to encourage businesses to keep workers healthy and prevent disease. The senators believed that having a country focused on “well care” versus “sick care” would decrease the overall costs of health care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s staff members. 

The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, states that businesses would receive a Wellness incentive – a fifty percent tax credit – if they provide to their workers a Workplace Health Promotion Program that meets the following criteria: 

      1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health risk assessments and Health Testings.

      2) A behavioral change component – such as counseling, seminars, or self-help materials to empower workers to lead healthier lifestyles.

      3) A supportive environment component – including offering meaningful incentives to taking part in workers, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing workers to engage in walking Workplace Health Promotion Programs during the workday.

      4) The creation of an staff member engagement committee – which would tailor the Workplace Health Promotion Program to the needs of the staff members at a particular business. 

If this law gets passed, many businesses will be scrambling to provide Workplace Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentives. 

Workplace obesity has become one of the fastest growing health care problems in America. It is well known that America is considered one of the, if not “the”, heaviest countries in the world. This is largely in part due to fast food, un-healthy snacks and a very sedentary lifestyle. However, what many people are not aware of is that the rate of obesity in our country has doubled in the last 30 years and this weighs heavily on a organization’s bottom line. 

According to a new report from The Conference Board, Weights and Measures: What employers Should Know about Obesity, obese workers cost private businesses an estimated $45 billion annually. Here are some of the report’s findings: 

Obesity is associated with a 36% increase in spending on health care, more than smoking or problem drinking.

34% of adult U.S citizens fit the definition of “obese”

Obesity related health problems are costing United States businesses millions of dollars annually in medical expenditures and work loss. 

Workplace Obesity: How businesses Can Help 

With the increase in obesity and employer costs associated with it, it is more and more imperative to establish a way to assist workers with their healthy living choices. Workplace Health Promotion Programs can help businesses help their workers. By providing assistance with Health Testing, Health risk assessments and by conducting Workplace Health Promotion Program surveys; Workplace Health Promotion Programs allow the employer non-invasive ways to communicate their concerns about their staff member’s health. 

We suggest establishing a Walking Workplace Health Promotion Program to assist your workers in meeting their weight-loss goals. Walking Wellness is a program designed to get your workers away from their desk and get them outside for a little physical activity. Keep it fun by having contests, setting up weight-loss teams and having organized healthy picnics.

You probably have seen the term many times and wondered what exactly does it mean. A Workplace Health Promotion Program Proposal is a proposal put together by a wellness consultant that makes suggestions for what type of Workplace Health Promotion Programs you should choose, what tools you will need to accomplish your corporation’s wellness goals, and costs associated with it. 

Workplace Health Promotion Program Proposals Assist Human Resource Departments 

A Workplace Health Promotion Program Proposal is a great thing to have in hand when HR Departments go to upper management to request funding for a Workplace Health Promotion Program. It will provide necessary stats and trends, background information, and costs that will enable the HR Department to fully present their case. Upper management will appreciate the preparedness and the research that has gone into your wellness request. 

Workplace Health Promotion Program Proposals Lead to Better Workplace Health Promotion Programs 

A well thought out Workplace Health Promotion Program Proposal can lead to a better Workplace Health Promotion Program, because the building blocks will already be in place. Workplace Health Promotion Program Proposals will guarantee that your corporation gets the proper Workplace Health Promotion Program established. Workplace Health Promotion Programs can vary greatly, but when your workers ask, you can tell them that they generally include the following: 

      Walking programs which provides workers with incentives to take their walking breaks at their workplace.

      Company teams, worksite yoga classes and massage therapists at the workplace.

      Nutrition advice, weight-loss and healthy cooking classes, stress management sessions, and either a Workplace Health Promotion Program resources column in the staff member newsletter or a wellness newsletter.

      Stairwell initiatives to show how stair-walking can improve health. 

Wellness Challenges are definitely hot right now and they are encouraging more and more people to get healthy and live better. Whether it is a city or a school or a social group or even a whole state, competitive spirits are being ignited by the challenge to be the healthiest team. The Wellness Challenges are usually about a six months to a year in length and they are made up of several teams, these teams all get points for physical activity, selecting healthy foods, and just making better life and health choices overall.

The best part about Wellness Challenges is even though there really is only way “real” winner; everyone that participates in the challenge is a life winner.

Wellness Challenges provides incentive to Get Healthy

Establishing a Wellness Challenges in your office is a great way to get workers to participate in your established Workplace Health Promotion Program. Have workers form teams and receive points for everything from attending a corporate Health and Wellness Fair to getting a health risk assessment to starting an physical activity regimen. At the end of the year, the teams will win prizes based on the number of points they have accumulated.

Wellness Challenges Improve Corporate Health

Not only will Wellness Challenges improve the health of your workers, it will improve the overall health of the corporation by providing benefits such as reduced injuries, reduced frequency of worker’s comp, reduced health care costs, better staff member attendance, and better corporate morale.

Like we said earlier, everyone is a winner in a Wellness Challenges!

The report calls for Workplace Health Promotion Programs to be promoted and implemented worldwide.

Importance of Workplace Health Promotion Programs

The report states that Non-Communicable Disease related deaths have surpassed transferable disease related deaths and have become the leading global killers. Examples of Non-Communicable Disease’s are heart disease, diabetes and stroke. In 2005, 60% of worldwide projected deaths were caused by non-communicable diseases. They are predicting that this health trend will continue through at least 2030.

Diet, caloric intake, lack of physical activity and tobacco use are the major risk factors in the cause of Non-Communicable Disease’s. Now more than ever, the understanding of the importance of health and wellness is crucial.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs are Effective Tools

The report states that Workplace Health Promotion Programs are found to be effective in improving health-related risk factors, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The report also states that Workplace Health Promotion Programs will improve the health of workers, improve the corporate image, improve staff member morale, reduce staff member absences and sick leave, increase staff member productivity, and reduce corporate health care expenses.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs Monitoring

Finally, the report mentions that to have a successful Workplace Health Promotion Program, monitoring and evaluation through Health risk assessments and health outcomes are essential and should be included in the Workplace Health Promotion Program implementation. The evaluations ensure that the Workplace Health Promotion Program developed meets the proper needs of the workers. Employees should be reevaluated on an on-going basis to make sure the Workplace Health Promotion Program is still working, or to see if there are any adjustments that need to be made.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs … do they provide a strong return on investment? This is a question that we are sure goes through ever organization’s mind. HR Magazine addresses the Workplace Health Promotion Program ROI topic in their June 2008 issue. 

Workplace Health Promotion Program ROI: The Bottom Line 

According to the article, titled “Finding Wellness’ Return on Investment,” determining Workplace Health Promotion Program ROI is not an easy thing to do for businesses because it involves a lot of different variables and time. 

However, the businesses that have taken the time to determine the Workplace Health Promotion Program ROI of their Workplace Health Promotion Programs have found that it is quite significant. Not to mention, the Wellness program’s effect on the improvement of staff member health and the slowing of the rate of their staff member health care expenses. 

Workplace Health Promotion Program ROI Alliance 

Workplace Health Promotion Program ROI is such an important aspect of today’s corporate culture, that several large businesses have come together to form the Alliance for Wellness ROI, Inc. According to the HR Magazine article, The Alliance for Wellness ROI was specifically created to address the lack of consistency in proving the value of Workplace Health Promotion Programs. 

The alliance, formed by Henry Ford Health Systems, BMW of North America, Kraft Foods Global, Schlumberger Limited and MasterCare Worldwide, strongly believes in showing the value of Workplace Health Promotion Programs and want to develop a standard for how Workplace Health Promotion Programs are measured. 

Workplace Health Promotion Programs Components 

According the alliance, the following components should make up an corporate-offered staff member Workplace Health Promotion Program: 

      Employee assistance Program

      Disease Management Programs

      Fitness and physical activity Programs

      Health risk assessments

      Workplace health care Programs

      Personal wellness profiles

      Preventive Health Testings and immunizations

      Tobacco-cessation Programs

      Telephonic Workplace Health Promotion Programs

      Weight loss and weight management Programs

      Self-Care Programs. 

Wellness is important year-round; however if your workers haven’t gotten on the Wellness bandwagon, then now is the perfect time to get them there.

Summer Time is an ideal season to get back into shape and improve overall Wellness. The weather is beautiful, workers can get outside and they are motivated by the thought of having to wear clothes with less coverage. Fitness, or lack of physical fitness, is apparent in the summer.

Wellness in the Summer Time has Advantages

There are many advantages to starting a Workplace Health Promotion Program in the Summer Time. Employees are more likely to get outside and walk or participate in group activities during the summer than they are in the cooler months of the fall and winter. The summer months are also a great time to establish a Wellness challenge with your workers and celebrate the completion of the challenge with a participant picnic or cookout. Finally, it always seems easier to eat healthy during the summer with all the fresh vegetables and fruits that are available during this time.

Workplace Health Promotion Program Kick-off

We recommend following these steps when starting a Workplace Health Promotion Program in your office.

Pick a wellness coordinator for the Workplace Health Promotion Program who is willing and able to see it through.
Make sure that you have the support of corporate leadership.
Start a Wellness committee
Make use of a Workplace Health Promotion Program survey to uncover the obstacles and goals of your Workplace Health Promotion Program
Provide Health risk assessments
Analyze the Workplace Health Promotion Program and changes as needed
Do not forget to stress that the Workplace Health Promotion Program is for the employees. Workplace Health Promotion Programs have been found to prevent obesity, cancer, heart disease and hypertension. taking part in in a Workplace Health Promotion Program that provides all that should be an easy decision for the corporation and for the workers.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs are part of business Culture

The Workplace Health Promotion Programs, according the story, has been in place for 16 years at Lincoln, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. The business has three full-time workers dedicated to the Workplace Health Promotion Program and the wellness of the workers, who receive on-site massages and a round of instructor-led stretching before they start their shifts.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs Assessed

According to CNN, one of the rules of the Workplace Health Promotion Program, which workers are not required to participate in, is that they receive quarterly checkups where assessments are completed on their weight, amount of body fat and flexibility. Based on these health assessments, the workers are then ranked from platinum all the way down to “non-medal”. To become platinum level, where you receive a business-paid climbing trip, you must achieve certain physical fitness levels and be a non-smoker. Smoking cessation classes are part of the Workplace Health Promotion Program.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs Bring a Big Savings

The Workplace Health Promotion Program has been a smart investment for Lincoln Industries. By having healthier workers, they have seen an average of $2 million in savings in health care costs per year. The savings don’t stop there, since instituting a Workplace Health Promotion Program, workers’ compensation claims have gone from $500,000 per year down to less than $10,000 per year.