Workplace Wellness Programs: Low-Cost Activities That Work

Workplace Wellness Initiatives that support staff members and the environment that they work in have been shown to be a good ROI. Workplace Wellness Initiatives can be extensive and sometimes expensive. However, there are ways for small organizations to make positive changes at little or no cost.

Workplace Wellness Program: Physical Fitness/Weight Management Activities

1. Allow access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational programs before, during, and after work hours.
2. Offer and encourage participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3. Offer cash incentives or decreased insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or weight management or maintenance programs.
4. Offer shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5. Offer outdoor exercise areas such as fields and trails for staff member use.
6. Offer bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7. Offer worksite fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8. Offer an worplace exercise facility.
9. Set up programs that have strong social support systems and incentives and rewards, such as:
o Buddy or team physical activity goals
o Programs that involve staff members and family
o Programs to encourage physical activity, such as pedometer walking challenges
o Consider discounted or subsidized memberships at local health clubs, recreation centers, or YMCAs
10. Offer flexible work hours to allow for physical activity during the day.
11. Support physical activity breaks during the workday, such as stretching or walking.
12. Host walk-and-talk meetings.
13. Map out worksite trails or nearby walking routes and destinations.
14. Have staff members map out their own biking or walking route to and from work.
15. Post motivational signs at elevators and escalators to encourage stair usage.
16. Offer exercise/physical fitness messages and information to staff members.
17. Offer or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the community.
18. Start staff member activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Offer worksite child care facilities to facilitate physical activity.
20. Sponsor a bike to work day and reward staff members who participate.
21. Set up a box and solicit fitness and health tips.

Workplace Wellness Program: General Health Education Activities

1. Have a current policy outlining the requirements and functions of a broad-based workplace Workplace Wellness Program.
2. Have a wellness plan in place that addresses the purpose, nature, duration, resources needed, participants in, and expected results of a workplace Workplace Wellness Program.
3. Orient staff members to the Corporate Health Promotion Initiative and give them copies of the physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use policies.
4. Promote and encourage staff member participation in the physical activity/fitness and nutrition education/weight management program.
5. Offer health education information to staff members.
6. Have a committee that meets at least once a month to oversee the Workplace Wellness Program.
7. Offer regular health education seminars on various physical activity, nutrition, and wellness-related topics. Ask voluntary health associations, healthcare providers, and/or public health agencies to offer worksite education classes.
8. Host a health fair as a kick-off event or as a celebration for completion of a wellness campaign.
9. Designate specific areas to support staff members such as diabetics and nursing mothers.
10. Conduct preventive wellness screenings for blood pressure, body composition, blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
11. Offer confidential health risk appraisals.
12. Offer worksite weight management/maintenance programs for staff members.
13. Add weight management/maintenance, nutrition, and physical activity counseling as a member benefit in health insurance contracts.

Workplace Wellness Program: Tobacco Cessation

1. Establish a company policy prohibiting tobacco use anywhere on the property.
2. Offer prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3. Policy supporting participation in tobacco cessation programs during duty time (flex-time).
4. Offer counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5. Offer counseling through a health plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling program.
6. Offer cessation medications through health insurance.