Tobacco use cessation assistance is a worthwhile wellness activity. Tobacco use is often a difficult habit to overcome. Company health promotion activities to support “smoke-free” living include -

o  Use American Lung Association resource. These include the Freedom From Smoking group and/or video-tutorial. There is also a follow-up video “A Lifetime of Freedom From Smoking”.

o  Reward individuals who’ve successfully quit use of tobacco for six months with an appropriate “kicked the habit” certificate and some kind of incentive gift.

o  Give “cold turkey” sandwiches to smokers who pledge to quit during the Great American Smokeout.

o  Start a “quitting or thinking about it” support group to assist and encourage person attempting to stop tobacco use.

Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Addictions

If a substance abuse policy is not in place in your worksite, advocate that one be developed. Request a knowledgeable Health Promotion Committee member be included in the policy development process.

If such a policy is already in place make sure Wellness Committee members are alert to the policy and have a thorough understanding of it. From time to time, remind workforce of wellness resources and programs available.

o  Invite AA, NA, AI-Anon, and other groups to meet in a organization building and/or publicize community meetings.

o  Serve non-alcoholic drinks whenever alcohol is served, and be sure food is always served along with alcoholic beverages.

o  Give easily accessible information about counseling, referral, and treatment programs available in the community. Put this information in an area where it may be viewed without embarrassment.

o  When conducting health promotion programs include information about responsible alcohol use on stress/weight management, nutrition, fitness, tobacco use, and accident prevention.

o  Issues like co-dependence and the difficulty of helping a substance abuser can also be addressed. Give this information as part of the wellness program by providing informational materials, brown bag sessions, employee assistance program information, etc.

o  The Employee Assistance Program provider is an excellent resource for substance abuse wellness programming and or worker assistance.

o  Other addictions, like problem gambling, food addiction, shopping, Internet addiction, etc., may be problematic and can reach the point of affecting a person’s life and work. Offer information, video review, or employee assistance sessions addressing these topics.

o  A Wellness Committee member may gain personal information regarding an worker problem. Remember to keep all worker information totally confidential.

o  Fitness classes in the worksite – Onsite exercise could be much more convenient for employees. Notwithstanding, on-site classes require logistical planning and coordination with attention to details.

Onsite courses are ordinarily more feasible for larger corporations.  As part of the steps in planning and assessment, speak with other wellness programs offering workplace classes. Ask what their experience has been like.

Talk to potential providers in the area as well. Find out what it would take to offer an on-site fitness class. YMCA’s, fitness clubs, and community recreation programs are excellent resources for this kind of discussion.

It is also feasible to offer a “mini” introductory worksite class series. A mini series might consist of an introduction to a new physical activity area. Workers are then expected to make the transition to home or community based health promotion programs.

o  Nerf Olympics –  Nerf games are fun (and entertaining) activities that encourage movement, flexibility, stress reduction, and usually are a good laugh. When planning such an activity consider setting up a “challenge” stations with various activities.

Ideas for activities include hula hoop contests, Nerf basketball free throws, Nerf football tosses, Frisbee “golf”, jump rope, etc.  The Health Promotion Team will lay out the course.

Each participant goes through the stations and gets a “gold” medal (you can purchase these at party stores and toy stores inexpensively) for completing all of the stations (no matter how badly they perform).

Begin each participant at intervals permitting for smooth running, but expect high difficulty stations to be backed up. This delay can add to the fun and creates a “keystone cops” scenario.

Nerf Olympics is a good activity to do with an audience, so encourage cheering coworkers.

o  Make available incentives to workforce who engage in aerobic exercise such as walking, running and bicycling on their own time (see goal setting wellness program, offer points toward prizes, etc.).

o  Distribute maps of walking/jogging trails located near the workplace. Mark distances in steps and miles. Make sure to encourage staff to walk at lunchtime and/or break times.

Post a steps collected map on a workplace wall where personnel can log their steps or miles.

o  Make certain to encourage joggers, walkers, and those who enjoying other forms of exercise to form fitness groups to meet before work, at lunch, or after work.

o  Promote the use of stairs instead of elevators. Place bulletin boards, art contests, etc., in stairwells.

o  Sponsor “Bicycle-to-Work” or Walk-to-Make certain to work week.

o  Schedule five-minute desk stretching at the worksite. This can relieve repetitive motion problems in addition to eye and back strain.

o  Sponsor a personal challenge activity like “Climb a Mountain” or “Swim a Sea”. This is an honor system health promotion program in which participating personnel are awarded minutes, steps, or miles credit for cardiovascular activity (swimming, walking, running, skiing, bicycling, stair stepping, group exercise, etc.).

The object of this kind of challenge is to accumulate the equivalent mileage it’d take to reach the top of a famous mountain, span a body of water (swim the Columbia River), or reach a distant city/county.

Attempt personalizing the challenge as much as possible to individual interests and/or area geographical matches close to the worksite.

o  Collect a selection of exercise video or DVD tapes. Staff Members can either check out a tape for home use, or offer a group activity video class.

o  If it is not possible for staff to leave the building to exercise or workout at lunch, try establishing an in-house aerobic walking track for employee use in an unused part of the worksite for lunch, break or after hours use.

An example of how this issue may  be solved is the use of stationary bicycles and other small exercise equipment provided for staff by some 911 call centers.

o  Sponsor a “Personal Best” Challenge”. Staff Members run, walk, bike, etc.  Their own personal best time. Repeat the personal best challenge each quarter to six months. Each time an staff member improves, offer recognition and an appropriate award.

Furthermore, recognize those personnel who maintain their personal best in the same way. Make certain to encourage non-participating personnel to get involved.

Assist these individuals in selecting  an activity that is comfortable and of interest for them, and one in which they are able to succeed and progress.

o  When you offer an introductory or other onsite exercise class or activity, be sure the instructor can relate to the audience, and the audience can relate to the instructor.

Have a Wellness Committee member attend a current class by the selected instructor class before the instructor conducting a class at workplace. Additionally, consider the staff who may  be potentially attending the class.

Sometimes bigger and/or older exercise instructors are often better accepted by audiences who are similarly sized and aged.

o  Sponsor a themed “virtual” trek. Calculate the mileage for the proposed “trip” ahead of time. Be certain that the distance is appropriate for the number of expected participants and time for the event (six to eight weeks) works well.

For longer events, small teams can accumulate their mileage for the trip. Establish a reporting network. Post a map to track the trip. Chart the progress with stick pins, a magic marker, or a highlighter.

Provide a brief humorous fictional narrative of the trip, posting a new one each week. Include as many participants’ names as possible. Alternate posting humorous texts with health tips along the way. Provide an incentive after the trip.

Ideas for Physical Activity Themes -

o  Swim the Mississippi to the Mardi gras.

o  Take a tour to all Oregon counties.

o  Take a tour of Oregon from Enterprise to Brookings.

o  Run or walk around the world (25,000 miles).

o  Tour de France (take all summer)

o  Tour de France on a stationary bike (take all winter)

o  Indianapolis 500

o  Climb Mount Everest (stairs or stair climbers). Target Sir Edmund Hilary’s birthday or the anniversary of the first conquest as a completion date.

o  Climb Mount Washington or Mt. Hood. Target President’s Day as a completion date.

o  Climb any significant mountain and tie it to any remotely related event.

o  Use time in exercise as a measurement for the contest rather than distance. This allows you to treat all forms of aerobic exercise more equitably.

o  Nutrition cook-off. Teams of personnel set a menu in advance and bring in prepared foods for an official competition. A nutritionist from the health department or local hospital or community serves as the judge.

Dishes and foods are investigated based on both health considerations and taste. Following the event, a cookbook of the teams’ recipes can be developed and distributed to the entire staff.

o  Cholesterol Control or “Down Under” Club. People  with cholesterol over 200 mg.  Are invited to voluntarily participate.  The invitation needs to be extended to all staff as the Health Promotion Team won’t have (nor should have) access to individual medical information.

Offer a variety of services to assist in decling cardiac risks. Gordian Health Solutions offers cholesterol management health programs for workforce qualifying by cholesterol score.

If an employee gets cholesterol numbers below 200 in six months, provide an incentive such as a prize to continue progress. Continue to supply information and reminders for continued cholesterol control.

o  Label reading contest. Designate a particular food or food category. Employees must find the designated products with the lowest/highest fat content in the supermarket. Give coupons or other prizes for predetermined number of winners or participants.

Or, provide samples of healthier food choices based on label information. Show how these compare to less healthy choices. Display results of the contest in the worker break room or at an worker brown bag event.

Other Health Promotion Program Nutrition Suggestions -

o  Give freshly brewed decaffeinated coffee and herbal tea.

o  Sponsor a healthy food “bake-off” once a year.

o  Give sugar and salt substitutes in the lunchroom.

o  At meetings, replace sweet rolls and donuts with bran muffins, wholewheat bagels, or fresh fruit. Consider offering other decaffeinated coffee and herbal teas plus no-sugar fruit juices.

o  Serve free popcorn in the break area.

o  Create a cookbook featuring healthful recipes contributed by staff members.

o  Fruit or veggie of the week (or month). Display an “exotic” fruit or vegetable in your lunchroom and see when peers know what it is. Employees can put their name and the name of the item on an index card.

These could be used to conduct a prize drawing after the week from the cards with the correct answer.  To add fun, encourage individuals  to put down funny answers when in doubt of the real name of the item.

Read some of those names during the prize drawing, and provide a prize for the most creative name. Divide the fruit or vegetable at the drawing and let those interested taste it. Be sure it can be eaten raw.

Unusual food items like star fruit are now readily available in grocery stores work well for this activity as many people have not tried these kinds of produce.

The BMI is a measure of a person’s overall height to their overall weight. Height and weight are measured during the employee health screening. A computer mathematical calculation provides the BMI score.    

Ideas for workplace based weight management programs include –    

o  Have Weight Watchers, TOPS, or other reputable weight control groups meet in your workplace or nearby. Provide such groups before/after work or during lunch. Worker attendance is normally better when personnel can attend either wholly or partially on work time.

Break times could  be rolled into lunch break times to minimize employee time away from work duties (with upper-level management approval). Workers typically pay their own fees for class attendance and supporting materials.

o  When the wellness program offers incentives based on participation, award a completion gift when staff member has attended a certain number of weight control sessions or activities.

o  Supply information regarding community weight control groups.

o  Incentives such as cash, tee shirts, plaques, certificates, hours/days off, names on bulletin boards can be given to individuals who write a weight loss contract and meet their goal.

o  Establish a worksite commitment to offer alternative healthy snacks at company-sponsored meetings. Healthy snacks like fruit, pretzels, plain popcorn, almonds, and veggies provide demonstration as to the company’s commitment to health and staff member well being.

A good wellness program should give these people  credit and recognition for their good work.

Recognition of healthy goal setting and goal achievement is a good approach for reinforcing what individuals  are doing on their own outside of work, and for reaching those who don’t like group activities.    

Suggested steps for individual goals and recognition include –    

o  A form personnel can fill out which includes the set goal(s) and a target date for completion.   

o  Information on establishing realistic objectives, as individuals  often overestimate what they are able to do and by when. It is good to remind workers “baby steps” count!   

o  Maintain a confidential file of the submitted worker goal forms in a dated “tickler” system.   

o  Send a reminder to each employee at the time of each participant’s goal date. This reminder could be a copy of their original goal form. Ask for worker’s feedback regarding their goal(s) –  completed the goal, need an extension, or have discontinued the goal.   

o  When the form is returned from an employee –    

   1) If an worker has completed the goal, a certificate of completion is received along with a prize or incentive item linked to the goal (if possible).

   2) If the worker renegotiates the deadline or the goal, the form is re-filed for future follow-up. Continue to encourage the worker.

   3) If the goal is canceled, send a note acknowledging this “good try” and encourage the staff member to try again when the timing is right.

o  Allow those interested in this process to set objectives any time and as often as they want.   

Walking clubs or “trekking” can either be done in real time (by scheduling walking groups), or clubs can be set it up so individuals  do their walking on their own and keep a shared log at work.

After a certain number of miles or steps are logged, staff are eligible for membership into the walking “club” and receive something like a prize (a walking pin, similar to the ones that volkswalkers get, or a certificate of membership).

Ways to continue interest in walking groups include -

o  Periodic announcements about community walking events. Keep abreast of events in the community, Parks and Recreation wellness programs, available tracks, inside walking options, volkswalking events, etc.

o  Periodic information specific to walkers; like what to look for when buying a pair of walking footwear.

o  Consider a worksite team to take part in a local fundraiser walk, such as the March of Dimes walk.

o  A walking club could be the kind of “club” that never really meets, or it could be the kind that does provide the option for those who are interested in group walks and events.

Health Awareness Video Programming

A lot of good health related videos and DVDs are available through loan programs either at no or low costs. Choose video programming based on worker interests and needs.

o  Schedule periodic health video viewings at lunch brown bag sessions.

o  The videos can be related to health or other related wellness topics like financial planning, caring for aging parents, or even humor as a “break” from the work routine.

o  Make sure to preview videos before showing them to insure they are appropriate, not too long, etc.

o  Have a Health Promotion Committee Host moderate the viewing, greet people , and lead a brief discussion after the video. Create one or two questions for discussion after previewing the video and use these to lead the discussion. Many health videos come with group discussion questions.

o  Attempt to supply a pertinent educational flyer for participants to take with them for additional information on the topic.

o  When possible, provide popcorn or fruit as a snack.

o  Provide a prize drawing (or points if you are doing that kind of incentive wellness program) for those attending the video program and discussion.

Health Promotion Mentors

Every worksite typically has at least a couple of staff who have successfully made changes in their health. Often, other staff will relate to one of their peers. Colleague support can go a long ways in stimulating healthy changes.

o  Seek volunteers from the work force who’ve experienced a illness resulting from an unhealthy behavior, or survived or recovered from a illness that just happens like breast cancer, and who’ve successfully made positive changes.

o  Connect these success story personnel with personnel struggling with similar health issues.

o  Both workforce participating in the mentoring process are doing so on a voluntary basis. Respect the privacy of this very special relationship.

o  A Wellness Committee individuals may be involved from a peripheral standpoint, and be available to share other resources that might  be valuable to both workforce.

Ideas and resources are going to be suggested here. Also review the Resource and Website listings at the end of this guide for additional ideas and resources.

Wellness Bulletin Board Ideas

Most worksites have at least one employee bulletin board located in a central area. Obtain permission to use part of that bulletin board as the “Health Promotion Corner”, or obtain senior level management approval to create a bulletin board dedicated to wellness. Health Promotion bulletin board suggestions include -

o  White 8 1/2″ x 11″ flyers are going to be ignored. Use color or nonstandard size and shape when possible.

o  Change your bulletin boards often. If they remain the same too long, they become “white noise.”

o  Play “Dialing for Dollars” to increase bulletin board attention. Make a random phone call and ask an employee to name the health fact of the day as listed on the health bulletin board. Award nominal prizes to winners.

Use an “activities calendar” with targeted advertisements, football schedules, recipes, etc. that will encourage keeping the calendar updated and utilized.

o  Post or email quick tips on health. Get tips from the Hope Health website at – http – //www.hithope.com/main.php?dir=content&file=health_tips.txt.

Health Promotion Library

Create an worker library in a central area that has easy worker access. Resources and ideas for the library could include -

o  A local health resources guide with referral lists to help staff members hook up with resources if on-site resources can’t be provided. Keep referral lists in a 3-ring binder and update monthly.

o  A brief, periodic wellness newsletter or update flyer distributed to workforce via their paycheck or department meetings. It’s easy to make use of the monthly CIS Healthy Benefits employee update for this purpose.

o  A variety of consumer books, magazines, videos, and articles related to good health. Solicit employee donations of current titles and recyclable items.

Make sure to encourage employees to checkout materials for loan. Update resources regularly. Consider using some of the CIS Healthful Benefits corporate wellness grant funds for good library resources.

o  Healthful resources are available at local libraries. Publicize those resources within your onsite wellness library.

o  Health magazines could be kept in the staff member break area.

o  Download additional copies of the CareWise quarterly newsletter from the CIS website at http – //www.cciservices.com, Healthy Benefits, and circulate these in employee break room areas.

o  Develop a consumer medical information bin that is updated with articles and pertinent information regarding consumerism and healthcare. Check the resource listings at the end of this guide for additional ideas.

o  Free brochure materials can be obtained from local non-profit agencies (American Red Cross, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Lung Association), and made available in worker areas.

See website listings and other resources in the back of this guide for more ideas regarding free health resources.

New Year’s Resolution Bulletin Board

o  Have staff voluntarily write down their health-related New Year’s resolutions on 3″ x 5″ index cards with their names on the back.

o  Post the cards in the form of a collage on the wellness bulletin board.

o  Leave the cards up for about two weeks, and then store them in a secure wellness file.

o  Post the cards near the end of February to remind staff members of their objectives and self-commitments.

o  Take the cards down again after another week and again store in a secure file.

o  Mail the cards back to the person along with health promotion program promotions or other information announcements after March.

o  Throughout the year, continue to offer wellness opportunities, support groups, or related activities.

Typically a certain level of worker involvement is also necessary to ensure availability of facilities such as a room and equipment.

There are wide ranges of ongoing courses which may be offered in the worksite, including aerobics, yoga, tai chi, stretching, weight management, stress management, tobacco use cessation, and self defense.

Depending on results from an interest survey, offering an “introductory” mini class series regarding a topic of high interest might  be a good beginning idea.

For  instance, offer a series of five starting yoga classes to acquaint staff members with the posture and relaxation advantages of yoga. After an introductory series, staff members may want to pursue something on their own in the community.

Or, possibly an staff member interest group could create where interested workers would pursue the chosen activity as a group.

Who Pays for What When? (Worker Subsidies and Discounts)

A lot of workforce and wellness teams are beneath the impression that the corporation ought to pay for all wellness activities. Don’t forget the corporation is paying the bulk of the employee’s health and benefits package.

When vacation time, insurance costs, and sick costs are all factored in, the typical American corporation spends very close to $10,000 each year per worker on related health, time off, and lost productivity costs.

Health is a personal responsibility and a gift we can all give to ourselves. Make sure to help personnel increase their understanding and appreciation of self-care for their health by encouraging their share of accountability for healthful and safe living and working.

Other ways of financing workplace based wellness activities and to also “internally” motivate staff members are included here -

Subsidies

When there’s a budget but not enough space or staff to offer onsite classes that are available elsewhere (like Weight Watchers, fitness centers exercise classes, Jazzercise, hospital community ed wellness programs, etc.), a subsidy can be offered to those who take advantage of these community resources.

Establish guidelines ahead of time about eligibility and maximum reimbursement, conditions for reimbursement, whether proof of participation is required and what form it should take (receipts, log forms, etc).

The wellness policy also needs to address whether someone is eligible one time only, once a year, every five years, etc. for reimbursements.

o  Subsidies work best when the employee puts out the money and effort first, and then gets a partial reimbursement or completion gift based on some sort of attendance or participation completion.

o  The reimbursement should be big enough to be worth the trouble of starting the health promotion program, but shouldn’t cover the entire cost the health promotion program.

o  It is easy to get carried away with requiring “proof” in these types of wellness programs. Do not make it too bureaucratic or no one will use it. It is crucial to remember no matter how well your policies are set up, there will be individuals , usually very few, who cheatâ.”that’s unavoidable and shouldn’t become the major focus of documentation requirements.

o  Consider appropriate participation gifts in place of financial reimbursement. for  instance, when an employee meets attendance criteria for a stretching class, provide a stretching strap or yoga mat as the completion gift.

o  Be sure to check with the executive management team regarding policy for subsidies, tax reporting, etc.

Discounts and Donations

Staff Member discounts and donations can be sensitive areas for public businesss and workforce. In many jurisdictions, public workforce are not allowed to receive any type of special consideration, including discounts, from local organizations, providers, or providers.

Be sure to check organizational ethics and procurement policies before asking for discounts.

When senior management policy does allow for discounts and donations, the whole solicitation process needs to be conducted fairly and spelled out in writing. All interested, licensed providers, and service providers should have a fair unbiased opportunity to participate if they so choose.

No inappropriate advantages are given to one provider over another respecting access to staff members, publicity, etc. No provider or service provider must be promised or guaranteed additional revenue, corporation, or anything else if they pick to voluntarily offer a donation or discount to staff members.

Follow the same donation and/or solicitation policies when offering vendor door prizes or gifts at an employer-sponsored wellness fair.

This is another fun activity focusing on healthful losing weight or maintenance.

o  Participants choose a secret code name (the name of a Hollywood star or other celebrity).

o  Participants weigh-in with a “trusted” confident privately – at which time a healthy weight goal is set for the period of the contest.

o  Post a chart with everybody’s secret name assigning each a starting weight of zero.

o  Participants weigh themselves weekly and submit the weight with their code name on the paper.

o  Weight is expressed in relation to a starting weight of zero. for example +4 would indicate a weight gain of four pounds; while â.”2 would indicate a weight reduction of two pounds.

o  Future weigh-ins should be in relation to the starting weight, not the previous week’s weight.

o  The chart is kept current and posted publicly by Wellness Committee.

o  Post a “weight control hint of the week” next to the tracking chart.

o  Give “take one” brochures on weight control education or motivational tips by the chart.

o  Celebrate worker progress after the activity.

Health Promotion Book/Journal Club and/or Book Exchange

Similar to any other book discussion group, the readings and focus of this group is health. With a wide “health” definition, many subjects can be appropriate including communication, self-improvement, relationships, money management, environment, ecology, recreation, cooking, etc.

Let the group select the topics and books. Another suggested idea is to establish a book swap area where readers can trade the book(s) for those that others have left for trade.

Pre-Be sure to work Stretching Group

A few minutes of gentle stretching is a excellent way to safely begin the workday. A specialist fitness instructor may  be brought in to teach proper stretching techniques.

After that, most often an internal group can meet and run itself. Offer periodic refresher sessions with the trainer or instructor to vary the routine and help keep participants motivated.

Considerations for workplace stretching -

o  Make certain to work with your Management Team for stretching endorsement.

o  Stretches ought to be taught by a knowledgeable and certified person.

o  Even though pre-work stretches are done on an worker’s personal time, the question of business liability will likely arise, specifically if someone reports an associated stretching injury.

Talk with your corporation’s legal counsel and/or contact your corporation workers’ compensation carrier to help in design of an worker release of liability waiver.

Workplace Chair Massage

Bring in a licensed massage therapist to offer chair massage at the employees’ expense. These massages are done fully clothed with the recipient seated in a chair.

The therapist brings in a special chair that fully supports the head and shoulders while an upper body massage is given. Sessions are typically 15 minutes, with an typical cost between $12.00 – $15.00 per session.

Post a sign up sheet with appointments at intervals advised by the therapist. Be certain the therapist is certified. It will be necessary to provide a private space. A group of “regulars” may evolve which may establish a regular massage schedule.

Obtain an agreement with upper management so staff members can trade massage time for coffee or personal break time.  Note – upper management may want the therapist to supply proof of liability insurance.

Art at Work

Art can be a good way to nurture employees’ creative side and help them manage stress at the same time. Bring in various art and craft supplies once a month and let the creative juices flow.

If participants are willing, have a temporary “art show” later that day. Or, feature worker art during certain months or times of the year. Be certain to encourage workforce to post their art in their personal workspaces.

Healthful Email-a-Week

Develop an email list of colleagues who want to receive an inspirational, funny or educational health quote, thought, tip or idea once a week by email.

Ask members of the Wellness Committee to collect ideas initially, and then ask the members of the email list to contribute ideas and information as time goes on. Follow all corporation rules regarding work time and email protocols.

Hobby Show or Demonstrations

Hobbies are excellent stress management tools. Make sure to encourage workforce to show off their talents by sponsoring a “hobby fair” or demonstration. Send around a sign up sheet.

See who’d be willing to bring in samples of their hobby, and maybe even do a live demonstration. Fairs or demonstrations can be scheduled as a group activity or brown bag that permits interested personnel to interact.

Or, hobby sharing may be done in groupings by topic over a scheduled period of time, allowing for a brief presentation and/or demonstration on the part of the hobbyist.

Use worker interest surveys to follow up on worker interests that are expressed.  The definition of health is broad, so brown bag presentations might also cover a wide variety of topics. Topics might include physical, mental, emotional, women’s health, men’s health, financial health, etc.

Considerations for brown bag presentations -

o  Brown bag sessions are good for awareness building. This seed planting process can help employees become more proactive about healthy choices.

o  Do not schedule the wellness program for the full hour – typically 40 minutes or so works best. This will allow folks a chance to come and go, grab a quick bite, ask questions, etc.

o  If the subject matter is sensitive, like domestic violence, substance abuse, etc., it’s possible people will be reluctant to attend for fear of being associated publicly with the problem. They will, nonetheless, attend if the focus is on assisting family members, colleagues, etc.

o  Ensure that staff hear valuable information and will leave with tools and resources to carry out the message. Be certain to work with the presenter on information strategies that work for your staff member group.

o  Promotional materials should publicize the health promotion program with a name that indicates the brown bag focus. Include all other pertinent information such as where, who, when, etc.

o  Some topics that cannot be covered in one session may  be offered in a short series. It’ll work best to schedule one session each week in lieu of several sessions in one week.

For example, you may offer a 3-week series on healthy eating instead of trying to cram all the information into one session.

o  A catchy title can draw individuals  to the event.  An example of this would be calling lunchtime presentations “Noonlighting”

o  When possible, provide a free healthful snack for personnel who attend.

o  To keep the momentum going, attempt establishing up a routine monthly time and day for lunchtime seminars.

o  If staff members work in shift or are in work groups in different geographical areas, devise a plan that offers equal attendance opportunity to all.

Resources -

1. Please see the idea list at the end of this guide which offers a selection of resource topics of interest to personnel.

2. Every community has many individuals, experts, or experts from voluntary groups (heart, cancer, lung associations), special interest groups (Y’s, Red Cross, Weight Watcher’s, Safety Council, Alcoholics Anonymous), or the local health department as possibilities to present worksite sessions free or at a low cost.

Many of these contacts will also provide affordable materials.

3. Topic videos can be used for a brown bag session.