Worksite Wellness
Effective Programs
Lead by example.
Express commitment to protect employees.
Clearly identify the objectives of the program.
Communicate basic health and safety philosophy.
Outline the general responsibilities of all employees.
Be clear that unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated.
Physical Activity
Encourage employees to walk for incentive prizes.
Participate in community walks.
Hold walking meetings.
Offer flexible lunch periods to encourage “buddy” walks.
Ideas
Promote a stairwell (“Stairwell”) climbing competition.
Encourage physical activity breaks during long meetings.
Have a goal of the week or month.
Keep a chart of weekly or monthly exercise goals in the office.
Negotiate corporate discounts for health club memberships.
Place physical fitness bulletin boards in strategic areas.
Promote a bike helmet fitting day.
Nutrition
Use vending machine commissions to help fund wellness programs.
Develop a cookbook and exchange recipes.
Hold recipe contests.
Encourage “Fruit and Vegetable Day” in the cafeteria.
Suggest that employees keep healthy snacks at work.
Ideas
Plan company functions with healthy eating choices in mind.
Conduct a support group for weight management.
Sponsor company weight reduction programs.
Offer information on packing healthy brown bag lunches.
Promote an “Eat Your Greens” campaign on St. Patrick’s Day.
Place myplate.gov charts in break room and cafeteria areas.
Offer nutrition-related resources to employees.
Stress Management
Offer chair massages at health fairs.
Encourage employees to take time for themselves.
Encourage laughter to reduce stress at the worksite.
Provide employees with relaxation music.
E-mail computer break tips.
Encourage staff to take meal breaks.
Encourage self-confidence and positive outlooks.
Tobaccoo
Promote smoke-free buildings and meeting rooms.
Provide on-site smoking cessation programs.
Reimburse employees for enrolling in smoking cessation programs.
Provide a tobacco savings calculator tool and have employees see what they could
do with money they spend on tobacco each year.
Give small gift cards to those who agree not to smoke.
Program Support
Provide incentives.
Arrange paid time off.
Set up displays in the reception area or lobby.
Display health posters in employees’ lunch or meeting rooms.
Send health-related e-cards and other health-related topics.
Host a lunch and learn the disaster preparedness plan.
Provide bulletin boards for health information exchange.
Provide bulletin boards to record milestones they have achieved.
Announce and publicize monthly events.
Conduct recognition activities for employees making efforts.
Send employees personally signed letters congratulating their healthy behaviors.
Promote success stories or employees of the month
Year One
Month 1
Letter of support
Develop mission and vision
Needs and interest survey
Program plan
Month 2
Kick-off event
Recruit worksite wellness team
Month 3
Hold monthly themed events
Start draft worksite wellness policy
Month 4
Wellness Challenge (see ideas above)
Month 5
Community walk/service
Month 6
Hold monthly themed events
Draft policy due to senior leadership
Month 7
Themed event
Month 8
Celebration event
Month 9
Health challenge
Month 10
Themed event
Month 11
Community Walk/service
Month 12
Satisfaction survey
Interest survey
Recognition of outstanding wellness