Corporate Wellness Incentive Plans

Can a small employer support workplace wellness? You bet! In fact, in some ways it is easier to establish a healthy workplace in a small employer than in a large employer.

Limited resources, especially in small businesses, can keep a company from setting up a Employee Health Promotion Program. Reasons can include:

• lack of financial resources;
• lack of employee;
• lack of senior-level reinforcement;
• little knowledge of the wellness concept and;
• problem about making wellness available to all workers.

According to the Wellness Councils of America, some small organization owners may have the wrong idea of what is involved in maintaining a Workplace Wellness Program. Some employers aren’t certain that a program would truly work and others feel that trying to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.  Perhaps they do not understand that it need not be costly and that they do not need special employee. They may not know that some employee would like to see some healthy changes and would help make things happen in their workplace.

It Can Be Done

Many small organizations have found ways to have a Employee Wellness Program that works for them. They keep the expense 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 healthy workplaces frequently 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 beneficial 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 thriving employers with fewer than 100 workers have:

• great employee benefits;
• policies that encourage a balance between work and personal life;
• flexible schedules;
• competitive salaries;
• great leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;
• environmentally responsible employer policies;
• procedures for seeking employee input; and
• a focus on placing employees’ personal wellbeing ahead of the personal gain of Senior Management.

All or most of these elements are also components of a strong Company Wellness Program.

Tips and Ideas

There are many ways to include wellness and health in a small company. You may not necessarily need a wellness consultant or a fancy health club. What you do need is support from upper management and a Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee of a few committed people. Below are some ideas that your workplace can consider.

Communications and Promotion

• Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter on paper or online. Or send out a brief message such as the weekly Healthy U Hot Tip.
• Utilized promotions that are already designed, such as Healthy Workplace Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

• Urge employee to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing competition.
• Provide pedometers for employees and track their steps.
• Rent a nearby school or neighborhood fitness center and offer physical activity classes.
• Bring in a local fitness instructor to teach classes or lead stretch breaks. Costs can be shared with staff members.
• Install safe bicycle parking.
• Offer healthy alternatives at company gatherings and lunches.

Policy and Business Plans

• Enlist an ergonomics professional to assess workstations.
• Foster policies to support work-life balance (for example, mandatory vacations, flextime, limits to work and e-mail on personal time).
• Give a wellness subsidy for a variety of health and leadership activities and courses.
• Offer financial incentives/rewards to be healthy.
• Give wellness incentives and rewards as rewards and recognition for a job well done.
• Conduct an business health audit.
• Become a partner with the neighborhood (for example, daycare, gyms, festivals, parks, restaurants).
• Spread the workload. Set up a Company Health Promotion Program Committee.

Small organizations may not have an abundance of time, money, or human resources available for a Workplace Wellness Program. But they frequently have a huge advantage over large companies-a positive workplace culture. That is a great foundation for a Workplace Wellness Program. When staff members are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more beneficial, and tend to be healthier.  With a modest amount of creativity and passion, small organizations can advance efficacious Workplace Wellness Programs. Get backing from management, create a Workplace Wellness Program Committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!