Health Wellness ProgramHealth and Wellness Programs and Wellness Program Consulting

In today’s business environment, the health of employees is usually related to the health of the business. Better job satisfaction, improved morale, lowered illness and injuries, and increased productivity are just some advantages of having healthy employees.

Marketing health in your workplace doesn’t have to be complicated, costly or time-consuming. Any business, big or small, can promote healthy eating and active living in the workplace. Here are some suggestions –

Healthy Eating

• For breakfast meetings, instead of serving donuts, large muffins, cookies, tea and coffee with cream and sugar, offer healthier alternatives like bagels, small muffins, fresh fruit, water, 100 percent fruit juice and milk with coffee and tea.

• For lunch meetings, avoid serving chips, fried foods, rich pastas, and salads loaded with dressing. Instead, offer sandwiches, bagels, whole grain low fat crackers and cheese, 100 % fruit juice, water, salads with dressing on the side, vegetable and fruit trays.

• Reimburse employees for items purchased to improve their health (e.g. healthy eating cookbooks, consultation with a Registered Dietitian).

• Arrange for the cafeteria or food vendors to offer healthful food choices.

• Arrange to have healthful options like bottled water, 100% fruit juice, fruit bars, and raisins available in vending machines.

• Give a means for individuals  to share healthful recipes with each other (for example, posting recipes on the Intranet, on posters or by e-mail).

Active Living

• Plan events and group activities to encourage staff members to become active, such as walking programs, contests and challenge events, stretch breaks, team sports or participation in local or provincial events.

• Make available on-site health specialists (e.g. personal trainers, fitness instructors) or incorporate this service in employee assistance programs to help workers work towards physical activity objectives.

• Provide a supportive environment in the workplace that makes healthful choices easy – bike racks, shower facilities, clean, safe and accessible stairwells, walking or running routes nearby the workplace, and fitness club facilities.

• Allow for flex time so that employees have more opportunities to take part in exercise plans as part of their working day.

• Reimburse workers for full or partial club membership fees, fitness class registrations, and fitness equipment purchases.

• Provide corporate health club memberships to reduce costs of individual memberships.

Keeping It Fresh!

Find a champion to –

• Organize lunch “n learn sessions to provide information and motivation for healthful consuming and active living.

• Invite demonstrators to provide cooking lessons or tips for making healthy foods.

• Post a rotating list in a common room of local restaurants that offer healthy food choices on their menus.

• Distribute information to educate workers on portion sizes.

• Include exercise and nutrition information in newsletters, pay check inserts, bulletin boards or e-mails.

• Plan activities that promote healthy consuming and physical activity. for  instance, start a year-round lunch-time walking club, and special activities