Posted by Employer Wellness | Posted in Employer Wellness | Posted on 01-08-2010
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’ll benefit from a well-designed staff member wellness program. Staff Members 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 staff member, 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 health care.
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 implement it determine the safety and health concerns of employees by the assessment of appropriateness of the facilities and equipment against the needs of the employees.
It can, for instance, 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 employees have to certain dangerous or dangerous materials and practices.
Wellness Programs – Immunizations.
This isn’t always practiced in every country since there are regions where government sponsored immunization shots are available. Nonetheless, it has also become an important component of the top Wellness Programs in many organizations in North America.
Immunization shots, such as those used to combat flu, for instance, are offered to staff members for free.
Worker Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Staff Member Assistance Programs (EAPs) consist of a broad variety of services. It can range from providing educational resources to staff members regarding health issues to sponsoring health services and medical care. In many businesses, medical and insurance have also become a staple part of their benefits system.
Weight Management Programs
This is another wellness program that organizations use, namely those that offer in-house commissary or cafeteria services. Instead of serving richer, high-calorie fare, cafeterias offer options for a healthier diet, usually in the form of low-calorie foods and sugar substitutes.
Worker Wellness Newsletters – Health Education Programs
One of the top Wellness Programs that organizations can implement is a self-powered tool using a newsletter to promote wellness, coupled with a visible campaign.
The campaign might be done periodically and focus on a specific topic, like use of tobacco hazards, cancer, stress, carpal tunnel syndrome, safety in the workplace, etc.
The newsletter in itself may be an effective means to deliver information to staff members or members of an organization but it is far from perfect. Some staff members, for example, might not peruse 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.
Fitness and Exercise Programs
Another top wellness program for organizations is one that involves physical activities. Businesses often sponsor exercise-related events like marathons and company sports programs to encourage workers to remain fit or lose excess weight. In mid- to large-sized organizations, companies may even pay for fitness center memberships or in-house exercise facilities.
Wellness Program Incentives.
Some of the top Wellness Programs implemented by businesses involve incentive rewards. This involves company-sponsored programs that reward workers for achieving specific wellness goals.
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 larger rewards) to specific gifts. In several cases, cash may also be used.
Notwithstanding, incentive systems have had mixed reactions and levels of success. But it continues to be among the top choices among companies who are willing to modify it for fit their unique needs.
Wellness Programs – Group Activities
In many organizations, businesses take benefit of colleague pressure for encourage employees to participate in Wellness Programs. This is currently among the favorite worker Wellness Programs currently in use today and growing in popularity.
Colleague pressure is often leveraged to help promote competitions referring to corporate wellness and to persuade workers to be active in company-sponsored wellness fairs.