Employees spend about one-thirds of their day in the office doing their tasks, attending meetings, and accomplishing reports. While this is the usual scenario, occupational stress brought about by numerous factors in the workplace may already be harmful to the health of the employees, especially if they are not considered to be generally healthy. Health is more than just the absence of diseases, most often, it connotes an excellent state of well-being which can be achieved through proper diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest and relaxation. To help promote good health among employees, companies are encouraged to develop workplace wellness programs.

What is a workplace wellness program?

Workplace wellness programs are health plans implemented by companies in order to foster a working environment that is conducive for growth and production. It may range from publishing newsletters on health to having an actual health expert to guide the employees through the program and address health issues.

1.Vision

First and foremost, the company must have a clear vision statement for the wellness program and it should support the mission of the company. It should include values that power the program and the goals it is trying to accomplish. It is very important that the goals are realistic because the unrealistic ones could pressure the employees in the wrong way and cause undue stress, which is the opposite of what the program intends to do. Moreover, it could cause withdrawal of employee support and participation which can render the program useless.

2. Timeline

Another element of a good workplace wellness program is a realistic timeframe.  The company has to consider that the time it takes for employees to respond to each step in the program may vary depending on the amount of their workload and free time. It would be helpful to have multiple sessions of the fitness activities to cater to employees whose work schedule prevents them from participating in the program.

3. Budget

A workplace wellness program cannot run without enough funding. Resources are necessary to collect data and implement, and evaluate the program. At first glance, the program may seem like a waste of money but upon closer inspection, one will realize that a workplace wellness program is a good investment. Studies show that a company that spends money on programs like this experiences increased earnings due to higher employee productivity and lower healthcare costs.

4. Communication

For a program to attract supporters and participants, it must be advertised effectively, increasing the awareness of employees about the plan. Spread the word by sending emails, posting on bulletin boards, and giving out newsletters.

5. Implementation Plan

This can be challenging, because it can entail significant changes in the workplace. For example, the company can promote proper diet and physical activities by providing healthy food choices in the cafeteria, training the cafeteria staff, and building an on-site fitness area.

6. Superior Support

To elevate employee interest, try to have the support of the senior officers and have a top-ranking officer personally endorse the workplace wellness program. It would be very encouraging to see the managers joining in the program as well. Incentives can also be given away for the employees who will be actively participating and it would be great if these bonuses would also be related to health and wellness.

7. Evaluation Plan

Lastly, an effective evaluation plan is necessary in order to determine whether the goals were achieved or not. It also helps the company verify the strengths and weaknesses of the program and the elements that should be changed in order to improve the program.

For a workplace wellness program to be successful, it must be developed and implemented with the promotion of health and wellness in mind. Working with a professional health and fitness vendor can save you time, money and ensure a successful corporate wellness program right away!