Employee Health Promotion Programs: Low-Cost Programs That Work
Posted by Health Promotion | Posted in Employee Health Promotion | Posted on 03-10-2008
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Employee Health Promotion Programs that support employees and the environment that they work in have been shown to be a good ROI. Employee Health Promotion Programs may be extensive and sometimes costly. However, there are ways for small employers to make positive changes at little or no cost.
Employee Health Promotion Program: Weight Management/Physical Fitness Programs
1. Allow access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational programs before, during, and after work hours.
2. Provide and encourage participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3. Provide cash incentives or lowered insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or weight management or maintenance programs.
4. Provide shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5. Provide outdoor exercise areas such as fields and trails for employee use.
6. Provide bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7. Provide onsite 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 and rewards, such as:
o Buddy or team physical activity objectives
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 onsite trails or nearby walking routes and destinations.
14. Have employees 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 employees.
17. Provide or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the community.
18. Create employee activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Provide onsite child care facilities to facilitate physical activity.
20. Sponsor a bike to work day and reward employees who participate.
21. Set up a box and solicit fitness and health tips.
Employee Health Promotion Program: General Health Education Programs
1. Have a current policy outlining the requirements and functions of a broad-based workplace Employee 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 Employee Health Promotion Program.
3. Orient employees to the Employee Health Promotion Program and give them copies of the physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use policies.
4. Promote and encourage employee participation in the physical activity/fitness and nutrition education/weight management program.
5. Provide health education information to employees.
6. Have a committee that meets at least once a month to oversee the Employee Health Promotion Program.
7. Provide regular health education seminars on various physical activity, nutrition, and wellness-related topics. Ask voluntary health associations, health care providers, and/or public health agencies to offer onsite 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 employees such as diabetics and nursing mothers.
10. Conduct preventive wellness screenings for blood pressure, body composition, blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
11. Provide confidential health risk appraisals.
12. Provide onsite weight management/maintenance programs for employees.
13. Add weight management/maintenance, nutrition, and physical activity counseling as a member benefit in health insurance contracts.
Employee 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 programs 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 health insurance.
