Health And Wellness In The WorkplaceHealth And Wellness In The Workplace

Can a small business support workplace wellness? You bet! In fact, in some ways it is easier to set up a healthy workplace in a small business than in a sizable business.

Limited resources, especially in small organizations, can keep a corporation from setting up a Worksite Health Promotion Program. Reasons can include:

• lack of fiscal resources;
• lack of employee;
• lack of senior-level reinforcement;
• minimal knowledge of the wellness concept and;
• issue about making wellness available to all employees.

According to the Wellness Councils of America, some small corporation owners may have a flawed idea of what is involved in maintaining a Employee Wellness Program. Some employers aren’t certain that a program would truly work and others feel that trying to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.  Maybe they do not understand that it need not be costly and that they do not need special employee. They may not be aware that some employee would like to see some healthy changes and would help make things happen in their workplace.

It Can Be Done

Many small companies have found ways to have a Worksite Health Promotion Program that works for them. They keep the expense and effort to a minimum and still have results that are positive for everyone. In 2006, Graham Lowe wrote a report on the best places to work in Calgary. He said that healthy workplaces often have a “positive workplace culture”.  In a workplace with a positive culture, individuals feel appreciated, valued, and trusted.

Dr. Lowe says it is easier for a small workplace to have a positive workplace culture than for a sizable workplace. Many employees prefer to work for a small business, he says, because it supports more opportunities to work closely with others and foster a sense of community.

In his report, Dr. Lowe says the most thriving companies with fewer than 100 employees have:

• excellent employee benefits;
• policies that reward a balance between work and personal life;
• flexible schedules;
• competitive salaries;
• excellent leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;
• environmentally responsible corporation policies;
• procedures for seeking employee input; and
• a focus on placing employees’ personal well-being ahead of the personal gain of Upper Management.

All or most of these elements are also elements of an effective Workplace Wellness Program.

Tips and Ideas

There are various ways to include health and wellbeing in a small employer. You may not necessarily need a wellness consultant or a fancy fitness center. What you do need is support from senior staff and a Company Wellness Program Committee of a handful of committed people. Below are some ideas that your workplace can consider.

Communications and Promotion

• Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter on paper or internet based. Or send out a simple message such as the weekly Healthy U Hot Tip.
• Utilized promotions that are ready-designed, such as Healthy Workplace Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

• Urge employee to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing contest.
• Have pedometers for staff members and count their steps.
• Rent a nearby school or neighborhood fitness center and offer exercise classes.
• Hire a local fitness instructor to give classes or lead stretch breaks. Expenses can be shared with staff members.
• Install safe bicycle parking.
• Offer healthy alternatives at employer meetings and lunches.

Policy and Company Initiatives

• Enlist an ergonomics professional to assess workstations.
• Create policies to support work-life balance (for example, mandatory vacations, flextime, limits to work and e-mail on personal time).
• Offer a wellness subsidy for a variety of health and leadership activities and courses.
• Offer monetary incentives/rewards to be healthy.
• Offer wellness rewards and incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.
• Conduct an company health audit.
• Become a partner with the neighborhood (for example, daycare, gyms, festivals, parks, restaurants).
• Spread the workload. Set up a Employee Wellness Program Committee.

Small companies may not have a lot of time, money, or human resources available for a Workplace Health Promotion Program. But they often have a big advantage over big companies-a beneficial workplace culture. That is a great foundation for a Workplace Health Promotion Program. When staff members are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more beneficial, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small companies can foster efficacious Workplace Health Promotion Programs. Get support from upper management, create a Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!