Corporate Wellness Incentive Plans

In today’s organization atmosphere, the health of workers is frequently related to the health of the organization. Increased job satisfaction, improved morale, reduced illness and injuries, and increased work rate are just some of the benefits of having healthy workers. Promoting health in your workplace need not be complicated, expensive or time-consuming. Any organization, big or little, can encourage 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 such as bagels, small muffins, fresh fruit, water, 100% fruit juice and milk with coffee and tea.
• For lunch gatherings, avert 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 healthy diet choices.
• Arrange to have healthy choices like bottled water, 100% fruit juice, fruit bars, and raisins available in vending machines.
• Provide a means for individuals to share healthy recipes with each other (for example, posting recipes on the Intranet, on posters or by e-mail).

Active Living

• Develop programs and group activities to bolster staff members to become active, such as walking programs, contests and challenge programs, stretch breaks, group sports or participation in local or provincial programs.
• Offer on-Site health professionals (e.g. personal trainers, fitness instructors) or incorporate this service in EAPs to help staff members work towards physical activity goals and objectives.
• Offer a supportive environment in the workplace that makes healthy choices easy: bike racks, shower facilities, clean, safe and accessible stairwells, walking or running routes in the vicinity of the workplace, and health club facilities.
• Provide|Offer|Give} flex time so that staff members have more opportunities to participate in exercise program as part of their working day.
• Reimburse health club membership fees, fitness class registrations, and fitness equipment purchases.
• Give corporate health club memberships to reduce expenditures of individual memberships.

Keeping It Fresh!

Find a champion to:

• Develop lunch ‘n learn sessions to provide information and motivation for healthy eating and active living.
• Invite demonstrators to support cooking lessons or tips for making healthy foods.
• Post a list of local restaurants that offer healthy meal choices on their menus.
• Distribute information to educate staff members on portion sizes.
• Include physical exercise and nutrition information in newsletters, pay check inserts, bulletin boards or e-mails.
• Plan activities that reward healthy eating and physical activity. For example, start a year-round lunch-time walking club, and special activities