Health Wellness ProgramHealth and Wellness Programs and Wellness Program Consulting

Can a small organization support employee wellness? Absolutely! In truth, in some ways it’s easier to develop a healthful workplace in a small organization than in a big company.

Limited resources, particularly in small companies, can prevent an business from setting up a wellness program. Reasons can include –

• lack of budget resources;

• lack of staff;

• lack of senior-level support;

• little knowledge of the wellness concept and;

• concern about making wellness available to all employees.

As reported by the Health Promotion Councils of America, some small company owners might have the wrong idea of what is involved in having a health promotion program.

Some businesss are not sure a health promotion program would really work and others feel that trying to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.  

Perhaps they don’t understand that it doesn’t need to be costly and that they don’t need special staff. They might not realize that some staff 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 health promotion program that works for them. They keep the cost 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 healthful workplaces often have a “positive workplace culture”.  In a workplace with a positive culture, people  feel appreciated, valued, and trusted.

Dr. Lowe says it is easier for a small workplace to have a positive workplace culture than for a large workplace. Many workers prefer to work for a small corporation, he says, because it provides more opportunities to work closely with others and develop a sense of community.

In his report, Dr. Lowe says the most successful businesses with fewer than 100 workforce have –

• excellent staff member benefits;

• policies that promote a balance between work and personal life;

• flexible schedules;

• competitive salaries;

• great leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;

• environmentally responsible company policies;

• procedures for seeking staff member input; and

• A focus on placing employees’ personal wellness ahead of the personal gain of business leaders.

All or most of these elements are also components of a good health promotion program.

Tips and Ideas

There are numerous ways to include wellness in a small company. You don’t necessarily need a wellness expert or a fancy fitness center.

What you do need is support from senior management and a committee of a few committed individuals . Here are some ideas that your worksite can consider.

Communications and Promotion

• Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter in hard copy or online. Or send out a simple message such as the weekly Healthy U Hot Tip.

• Use promotions that are already designed like Healthful Workplace Week.

Active Living and Healthful Eating

• Make sure to encourage staff to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing competition.

• Get pedometers for personnel and track their steps.

• Rent a nearby school or community health and fitness center and offer exercise classes.

• Hire a local fitness instructor to give classes or lead stretch breaks. Costs may be shared with staff.

• Install secure bike parking.

• Serve healthful alternatives at corporation meetings and lunches.

Policy and Organizational Programs

• Hire 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).

• Provide a wellness subsidy for a selection of health and leadership activities and courses.

• Offer financial incentives to be healthy.

• Give wellness incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.

• Conduct an organizational health audit (NQI Healthy Workplace Week).

• Become a partner with the community (for example, daycare, gyms, festivals, parks, restaurants).

• Spread the workload. Make sure to set up a wellness committee.

Small companies might not have a lot of time, money, or human resources (HR) available for a health promotion program. But they often have a enormous advantage over big companies-a positive workplace culture.

That is a great foundation for a wellness program. When personnel are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more productive, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small organizations can create successful wellness programs.

Get support from management, form a committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!