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Health and wellness programs have become more common among the nation's larger enterprises. Now is the time for small businesses to begin implementing their own initiatives. Health and wellness programs offer benefits not only for the wellness of the employee, but also the success of the company. Let’s look at these benefits and ways to launch these programs.
Substantive benefits
Harvard Business Review, a major publication, lists some of the core advantages of effective health and wellness programs, including the following:
Where to begin
Starting a wellness endeavor at a small business does not require a sizable investment. Small and simple programs can lead to increased wellness and a culture of healthy living. This can have a long lasting impact on your small business. Start with identifying one point of contact. This person will be your “wellness champion” and can help rally employees to participate. Your champion is typically a health conscience, fitness minded employee. Then, start small, get feedback, and make changes that align with your employees' interests.
Some simple wellness program ideas include:
Substantive benefits
Harvard Business Review, a major publication, lists some of the core advantages of effective health and wellness programs, including the following:
- Low turnover rate: After the SAS Institute, an analytics firm, implemented a health and wellness program they saw a drastically lower voluntary turnover rate of 4%.
- Decrease in workers’ compensation: The Maryland Anderson Cancer Center, an oncology specialist, saw $1.5 million in savings and a 50% decrease in workers compensation premium roughly six years after it launched its health and wellness program.
- High return on investment: A 270% return – that’s the estimate from Harvard Business Review about the difference that wellness programs made for one major U.S. corporation.
Where to begin
Starting a wellness endeavor at a small business does not require a sizable investment. Small and simple programs can lead to increased wellness and a culture of healthy living. This can have a long lasting impact on your small business. Start with identifying one point of contact. This person will be your “wellness champion” and can help rally employees to participate. Your champion is typically a health conscience, fitness minded employee. Then, start small, get feedback, and make changes that align with your employees' interests.
Some simple wellness program ideas include:
- Allow time for exercise during the work day.
- Distribute desk yoga programs and make it acceptable for employees to block 20 minutes on their calendar.
- Provide an on-site kitchen or eating area.
- Subsidize weight-watchers or other proven weight-loss programs.
- Offer a smoking cessation program.
- Offer healthy options in vending machines.
- Encourage employees to use free fitness apps, have competitions and offer prizes.
- Hold a walk-and-talk meeting.
- Promote quiet time during the work day or provide information on meditation and balance.
