Tips on How to Plan a Company Wellness Program

Employees' well being is the key to lowering health-care costs and raising productivity. Putting together an employee wellness program is a step in the right direction. Here are some tips on how to put a wellness program together.

Plan to have a company wide meeting where you will introduce the wellness program. For the big kick-off make sure to have some relevant items to gear everyone up to invest more in their health. Start with a wellness journal in which your employees can keep track of how they are doing with targeted goals, such as lowering blood pressure and calorie intake, and getting more exercise.

Weight Loss
Every wellness program should include exercise and weight-loss incentives. Perhaps you can set up an on site gym to use for free or contact a local gym that would provide a discount membership. Or you could have a Weight Watchers representative visit with employees. To help them with their weight-loss routines, think of giving out items like jump ropes, pedometers and water bottles to keep exercisers hydrated.

Smoking Cessation
Another important element should be help for people who want to quit smoking. Give attendees of smoking cessation seminars dental-care kits to maintain their new minty fresh breath and portable mini oxygen canisters for breaths of fresh air for their new clean lungs.

Plan to reward your employees on a monthly basis by having them set their own goals for either weight loss, smoking cessation or maybe training for a marathon. For those who meet their goals give prizes openly for their efforts. Make it easier to keep healthy by filling snack machines with healthy snacks of nuts and full grain bars and healthier juices rather than soda's. Your employees will be healthier and happier for it.