Ideally, you’ll create an overall plan for a health promotion program before beginning to plan specific health promotion programs. for  instance, you can start by getting the following elements in place –

• support from senior level management

• A wellness committee or team

• information about the wellness needs and interests of employees

• A budget

• health promotion program objectives

• An analysis plan

Even when you have few financial and/or HR, you can still take a “micro” approach. for example, you might focus on only one specific issue or problem. Creativity, enthusiasm and planning can help you overcome limitations.

This article will give you some ideas for establishing up wellness programs. Even the smallest steps can have an impact.

Whether you pick to start with a single wellness program or develop something larger, planning is essential. First think about the big picture and then look after the details.

Ask yourself these questions –

• Identify an action. What health-related wellness program will fit the bill and best suit the workforce and organization?

• Promote. How can you most effectively get the word out to employees? What are the opportunities for promotion? Consider everything, because staff have access to and pay attention to different kinds of messages.

In a average worksite, employees get information from e-mail, newsletters, bulletins, handouts, meeting announcements and fellow employees.

• Deliver. Who is the best person or group to put the wellness program into action? Ask other businesses about approaches they have used. Decide on your budget before making a decision.

• Evaluate. What should you evaluate to determine success? Do you need hard data and/or testimonials from individual participants?

We recommend the following when planning your health promotion program –

• building and communicating clear health promotion program objectives

• Targeting your audience

• determining on the type of health promotion program or campaign

The Elements of Wellness Programming

Programs to promote wellness in the workplace do not need to be restricted to a single area. You may think company health promotion only involves promoting positive personal health, e.g., blood pressure clinics, pamphlets on heart illness, “lunch and learn” workshops on consuming habits and short-term exercise programs.

These activities are important, but company health promotion should also be part of a corporation’s company strategy and go beyond traditional health promotion programming.

Taking a expanded approach, the National Quality Institute recently identified three key elements of a healthful worksite –

• physical environment

• social environment and personal resources

• health practices

Specific Program Ideas

Physical Environment

Look after workers’ safety and health and establish regulations to support their safety and health. Consider providing the following –

• Safe bicycle storage and shower and/or change facilities for cyclists and other commuters.

• Fridges for staff to keep snacks and meals fresh and/or healthy snacks in vending machines and cafeterias.

• Ergonomic assessments.

• Subsidies to help workers join local recreation centers.

• Classrooms/conference rooms available for booking activities like yoga, pilates, tai chi, meditation and aerobics.

• Safe and pleasant stairwells that invite workforce to use them.

• Reviewing the potential for violence at work with plans to deal with such risks.

• Good lighting and sound and air quality.

Social Environment

Human relationships and communication, in addition to ways of doing organization, can affect an staff member’s mental and physical health. Businesses should consider the following –

• respectful worksite policies that provide safe worksites

• policies on flex time

• policies on working from home

• worker satisfaction surveys

• leadership coaching

• resiliency training

• staff member assistance programs

To foster a positive social culture or climate, consider employees’ needs, which include –

• being respected

• A sense of belonging, purpose and mission

• freedom of expression

• protection from harassment and discrimination

What you have “always done” may not address current employee needs. Ensuring that individuals  enjoy being at work isn’t an easy task, but making the right changes can have a huge impact.

Health Practices

Make available wellness programs and set policies that help employees remain healthy or improve their health while at work. Consider offering the following –

• “Lunch and learn sessions” on healthful habits such as sleeping better, consuming on the run, healthful snacks, using a pedometer, pole walking, work-life balance, time management, stress management, resiliency, parenting and reading nutrition labels.

• Stop smoking clinics or subsidies to help workers quit.

• Health risk assessments, including fitness assessments.

• Programs to address the issues raised in the health risk assessments.

• Healthful snacks served at meetings and conferences.

Personal Employee Wellness Tips

When there’s no wellness program at your worksite, don’t let that stop you from keeping healthful. Perhaps your example will spark a movement toward a healthier worksite.

Here are several ideas to think about –

• be active at work. There are many ways to bring activity into your workday. Walk to work, even if it is just one way. Hold walking meetings. Bike to work. Use the stairs. Walk to a workmate’s office instead of sending an e-mail.

• Eat well at work. Pack a healthful snack and meal. Place a bottle of water at your desk or workstation. Eat breakfast and eat regularly during the day. Take turns bringing a basket of fruit for coworkers’ snacks. Order healthful snacks for meetings.

• Maintain work-life balance. Make certain to work efficiently so you can leave on time. Conduct short, effective meetings. Leave your work at work and do not take it home.

Minimize social chit-chat. Be certain to set up your office to enhance your work. Prevent clutter. Plan and prioritize to ensure that the most vital things get done first.

There is no limit to the number or variety of health promotion programs. A key to success is planning well and ensuring that you can evaluate the results so that you can sustain momentum.

Speak to other wellness practitioners to find out what works well for them. Listen to your coworkers to determine their needs and interests.  And do not forget to promote, promote, promote.