Workplace Health Promotion Programs: Low-Cost Programs That Work
Workplace Health Promotion Programs that support staff members and the environment that they work in have been shown to be a good ROI. Workplace Health Promotion Programs can be extensive and sometimes expensive. However, there are ways for small companies to make positive changes at little or no cost.
Workplace Health Promotion Program: Physical/Weight Management Programs
1. Give access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational activities before, during, and after work hours.
2. Provide and encourage participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3. Provide cash incentives or reduced insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or weight management or maintenance activities.
4. Provide shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5. Provide outdoor exercise areas such as fields and trails for staff member use.
6. Provide bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7. Provide worksite fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8. Provide an onsite exercise facility.
9. Set up programs that have strong social support systems and incentives, 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. Provide 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 worksite trails or nearby walking routes and destinations.
14. Have staff members 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. Provide exercise/physical fitness messages and information to staff members.
17. Provide or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the community.
18. Start staff member activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Provide worksite child care facilities to facilitate physical activity.
20. Sponsor a bike to work day and reward staff members who participate.
21. Set up a box and solicit fitness and health tips.
Workplace Health Promotion Program: General Health Education Programs
1. Have a current policy outlining the requirements and functions of a broad-based workplace Workplace Health Promotion Program.
2. Have a wellness plan in place that addresses the purpose, nature, duration, resources required, participants in, and expected results of a workplace Workplace Health Promotion Program.
3. Orient staff members to the Workplace Health Promotion Program and give them copies of the physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use policies.
4. Promote and encourage staff member participation in the physical activity/fitness and nutrition education/weight management program.
5. Provide health education information to staff members.
6. Have a committee that meets at least once a month to oversee the Workplace Health Promotion Program.
7. Provide regular health education presentations on various physical activity, nutrition, and wellness-related topics. Ask voluntary health associations, health care providers, and/or public health agencies to offer worksite 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 staff members such as diabetics and nursing mothers.
10. Conduct preventive wellness screenings for blood pressure, body composition, blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
11. Provide confidential health rist assessments.
12. Provide worksite weight management/maintenance programs for staff members.
13. Add weight management/maintenance, nutrition, and physical activity counseling as a member benefit in medical insurance contracts.
Workplace Health Promotion Program: Tobacco Cessation
1. Establish a company policy prohibiting tobacco use anywhere on the property.
2. Provide prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3. Policy supporting participation in smoking cessation activities during duty time (flex-time).
4. Provide counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5. Provide counseling through a health plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling program.
6. Provide cessation medications through medical insurance.
