Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 14-02-2011
Want some wellness program ideas and wellness policy ideas to get you started? Or maybe you want to jump start or improve upon your current wellness program?
The list below provides “best practices’ that can help meet any wellness program budget! the Health Promotion Program ideas are divided into topic areas.
General Wellness Progam Ideas
o Policy – Conduct an Staff Member Needs and Interest Survey
o Policy – Create a management/employee Health Promotion Committee
o Policy – Choose medical programs that cover costs for weight control and tobacco use cessation
o Policy – Waive co-pay or reimburse for preventive healthcare visits
o Program – Display pamphlets on a selection of wellness topics for employees to take
o Program – Establish a wellness resource center or library with videos, books, magazines, DVD’s on a selection of topics of interest to employees
o Program – Identify staff members who are mentors or champions for healthy activities and ask them to present or to list as a contact for other employees
o Program – Plan and promote periodic or regular educational sessions.
o Program – Plan monthly educational sessions on the national health observance topic
o Program – Post a Wellness Bulletin Board and update it monthly
o Program – Promote messages from national health observances during the month
o Program – Publish and/or post healthful tips in newsletters, paycheck stuffers, bulletin boards, etc.
o Program – Sponsor a benefits fair
o Program – Sponsor organization fitness and healthy eating challenges
o Program – Sponsor corporation wellness fairs or other onsite events
Nutrition Programs
o Policy – Give free, healthful snacks for staff members (fruit, nuts, popcorn)
o Policy – Provide healthful meal choices in cafeterias and at corporation events
o Policy – Give information to personnel about the nutritional content of food served in the cafeteria
o Policy – Start a fresh fruit “snack basket” in the breakroom or cafeteria
o Policy – Stock vending machines with healthier choices
o Policy – Subsidize healthy foods in the cafeteria or vending machines (10¡ apples could be more appealing than $1.00 candy bars)
o Program – Coordinate a weekly or monthly healthy lunch club
o Program – Have flyers available on a selection of healthy eating topics
o Program – Include nutrition articles in organization newsletters
o Program – Schedule a healthful food tasting contest Free
o Program – Schedule educational sessions at lunch-time on a selection of nutrition topics of interest
o Program – Sponsor an worker healthful food cookbook. Either sell the cookbook and use profits for programs, or purchase a cookbook for all employees
Weight Loss Programs / Weight Management Programs
o Policy – Consider flexible work schedules so that workers can participate in weight-loss programs
o Policy – Subsidize registration costs for weight-management programs
o Program – Form a support group to help staff who are attempting to lose weight
o Program – Locate registered dieticians near your worksite as a resource for staff members who want information on healthy consuming, meal planning or weight control
o Program – Give individual counseling for staff trying to lose weight
o Program – Offer onsite fitness and weight-management programs through your local hospital, Weight Watchers, TOPS or local, registered dietician
o Program – Schedule an educational session on diet myths and healthful eating
Exercise Programs
o Policy – Allow flexible work schedules to encourage exercise
o Policy – Develop a fitness space with aerobic equipment, and weights
o Policy – Develop accessible walking paths, trails, and/or bicycle routes
o Policy – Make sure to encourage workers to walk more by parking farther away from the entrance
o Policy – Establish a fitness club with aerobic equipment, weights, group exercise classes, fitness professionals
o Policy – Hold walking meetings
o Policy – Make the stairwells more appealing (carpet, fresh paint, artwork, posters)
o Policy – Make available reduced fitness club membership fees to all personnel
o Policy – Give facilities for employees to secure bicycles
o Policy – Schedule 5 â.” 10 minute stretch breaks during the day
o Policy – Subsidize gym membership for employees who participate a minimal number of days per week (ex., 3 days per week)
o Policy – Support lunchtime walking/running clubs or company sports team
o Program – Make certain to encourage stairwell use and incentives
o Program – Install a basketball hoop outside
o Program – Promote and support community walks or fitness events
o Program – Promote walking during breaks and other off-time periods
o Program – Provide periodic fitness incentive programs to encourage exercise
o Program – Schedule educational sessions on fitness activities
Use of tobacco Cessation Programs / Smoking Cessation Programs
o Policy – Create a tobacco-free grounds
o Policy – Create a tobacco-free worksite
o Policy – Make certain to encourage the use of 1-800-QUIT-NOW, North Carolina’s free Tobacco Use Quitline. Or check www.QuitlineNC.com
o Policy – Reimburse for tobacco replacement products
o Policy – Subsidize the cost of smoking cessation workshops
o Program – Give pamphlets and information on health effects from use of tobacco and tobacco cessation
o Program – Schedule awareness sessions to motivate personnel to try to quit tobacco use
o Program – Schedule onsite smoking cessation workshops
Staff Member Medical Screening
o Policy – Discount medical insurance premiums or reduce co-payments for workforce who take part in screenings and who take part in managing their risk factors
o Policy – Install blood pressure monitoring equipment
o Program – Offer flu shots for personnel and family members
o Program – Make available HRAs to all staff, including counseling and follow-up
o Program – Provide periodic blood pressure screenings and follow-up
o Program – Make available periodic screenings for cholesterol, blood sugar, body composition, etc.
Stress Management Programs / Be sure to work Life Balance Programs
o Program – Allow flexible schedules for family/work life balance
o Program – Make available and promote an worker assistance program
o Program – Give information on substance abuse prevention
o Program – Provide flyers and information on stress management and psychological health
o Program – Provide handouts and information on work life balance, such as financial planning, childcare, parenting, elder care, etc.
o Program – Provide supervisor and manager training on communication, relationship building, organizational stressors, etc.
o Program – Review company policies and work schedules to identify organizational stressors
o Program – Review the worker assistance program to ensure it’s meeting the needs of the staff members and company
o Program – Schedule educational sessions on stress management and work life balance
o Program – Schedule workshops on relaxation, stress management, and work life balance topics