PPB December 2017

Wellness Programs | FEATURE One part of the solution is to showhow employees can be empowered to play a role in facilitating the programonce it is designed. In a company of any size, therewill be runners, cyclists, hikers and active people whowill welcome the opportunity to help manage the programand encourage others to participate. Theywill also likely have suggestions and ideas to create engagement that will be valuable to everyone. The second part of the solution is offering to manage the program for a fee. The cost to the client is based on the size of the company and how much of the program you will be executing. This fee could range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars per month. 5 Determine goals and benchmarks. The program should have measurable goals with the focus being on nutrition benchmarks, measured weight loss or general fitness goals in which exercise activity is documented. A successful wellness program is often a combination of several of these. The program can also include quarterly or semiannual wellness challenges that take place over a period of four to six weeks and involve teams, individual goals or both. Individual goals should be respected, and group goals should help everyone succeed. Short-term challenges and ongoing positive lifestyle changes are also important in changing health-related behaviors among employees. Providing healthier food choices in the break room or cafeteria, defining a walking route that can be completed over a lunch hour, encouraging preventative medical checks and similar elements will also support employees’ wellness efforts. Creating a supportive community is also part of building a wellness culture. Typically, the least healthy 20 percent of employees are driving 80 percent of healthcare costs within a company, and that 20 percent are historically least likely to participate. The program should be focused on everyone’s wellbeing with the overall understanding that the company wants to see employees practice healthy habits for their own good, not just for the good of the company. Encouragement and incentives will help support the culture the program is working to create. 6 Determine the types of products you will use. The choice of promotional products used will, in part, be determined by the company’s goals and budget. Once it has been determined what the company wants to accomplish with the wellness program, you can help them identify the The Benefits Of WELLNESS PROGRAMS A wellness program is good for business, and the benefits of these programs are well documented. The Institute of HealthCare Consumerism offers these statistics: Tracking And Management RESOURCES Documenting activity is a significant component of a wellness program’s success. There are several tracking and management programs with the tools available to manage these programs and accrue points for participants. You can choose one that best meets your clients’ needs and budget. Most tracking programs will keep a record of activity by syncing with popular tracking devices such as Fitbit or Garmin. Here are a few to check out: Alyfe Wellbeing Strategies www.alyfewellbeing.com Circle Wellness circlewellness.com Daily Endorphin dailyendorphin.com CoreHealth Corporate Wellness Platform www.welcoa.org/providers/ corehealth-wellness-software of healthcare costs are attributed to changeable health risks, such as tobacco use, diet and lack of exercise. of employees were willing to change their lifestyle habits if it meant they could lower their health insurance premiums. Employees who are offered wellness programs and participate in them are more likely to have a higher level of job satisfaction, feel happier with their employer and be more satisfied with their overall benefits. 59 % 35 % 28 % ¼ Wellness programs help curb healthcare costs, and of companies agree that wellness programs can help reduce these costs. of employees said they would feel more satisfied and more loyal to their employer if their company offered more options to improve their health and lifestyle. | DECEMBER 2017 | 53