Posted by Health Wellness | Posted in workplace wellness | Posted on 25-08-2010
Who needs Wellness Programs? When you work in an office or a jobsite or are a member of an organization who spends a considerable amount of time at work, you will benefit from a well-designed worker wellness program. Workers spend a minimum of about 200 hours a month at work – a considerable amount of time.
Further, stress, distractions and the pressures of the job can take its toll on the worker, which makes it important that a wellness program is implemented.
Today, all across America, Canada, Europe and Asia, top corporate Wellness Programs are being used to help improve employee conditions at work and reduce the cost of employee healthcare.
Some of the top Wellness Programs currently in use today include –
Wellness Programs – Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal}s (HRAs)
Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal} is a top Wellness Program currently in use globally. Organizations that start it determine the safety and health concerns of workers by the assessment of appropriateness of the facilities and equipment against the needs of the workers.
It can, for example, guide the organization into determining how much air quality within an office room affects the users and then help the assessment team to come up with the measures necessary to correct the problem.
An HRA can also evaluate the level of exposure workers have to certain dangerous or dangerous materials and practices.
Wellness Programs – Immunizations.
This is not always practiced in every country since there are regions where government sponsored immunization shots are available. Notwithstanding, it has also become an important component of the top Wellness Programs in many organizations in North America.
Immunization shots, like those used to combat flu, for example, are offered to workers for free.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) consist of a broad variety of services. It can range from providing educational resources to employees regarding health issues to sponsoring health services and medical care. In many corporations, medical and insurance have also become a staple part of their benefits system.
Weight Management Programs
This is another wellness program that organizations use, especially those that offer in-house commissary or cafeteria services. Instead of serving richer, high-calorie fare, cafeterias offer choices for a healthier diet, typically in the form of low-calorie foods and sugar substitutes.
Staff Member Wellness Newsletters – Health Education Programs
One of the top Wellness Programs that organizations can begin is a self-powered tool using a newsletter to promote wellness, coupled with a visible campaign.
The campaign may be done periodically and focus on a specific topic, like smoking hazards, cancer, stress, carpal tunnel syndrome, safety in the workplace, etc.
The newsletter in itself could be an effective means to deliver information to staff members or members of an organization but it’s far from perfect. Some staff members, for instance, might not read the newsletter in its entirety or even pay attention to it.
If the issues outlined in the newsletter are promoted through an active and highly visible campaign, it’ll be easier to maximize positive results.
Physical Fitness and Fitness Plans
Another top wellness program for organizations is one that involves physical activities. Companies often sponsor exercise-related events such as marathons and company sports programs to encourage staff members to remain fit or lose excess weight. In mid- to large-sized organizations, businesses might even pay for gym memberships or in-house exercise facilities.
Wellness Program Incentives.
Some of the top Wellness Programs implemented by companies involve incentive rewards. This involves company-sponsored programs that reward workers for achieving specific wellness objectives.
Participation in health campaigns and signing up for Wellness Programs are two of the most commonly rewarded schemes. Rewards can range from special recognitions to points (for bigger rewards) to specific gifts. In several cases, cash might also be used.
However, incentive systems have had mixed reactions and levels of success. But it continues to be one of the top choices among businesses who are willing to modify it in order to fit their unique needs.
Wellness Programs – Group Activities
In many organizations, businesses take benefit of coworker pressure for encourage workers to participate in Wellness Programs. This is currently one of the favorite staff member Wellness Programs currently in use today and growing in popularity.
Coworker pressure is often leveraged to help promote competitions referring to corporate wellness and to persuade staff members to be active in company-sponsored health fairs.