Can a small organization support corporate wellness? Absolutely! In truth, in some ways it is easier to develop a healthful worksite in a small organization than in a big business.

Limited resources, namely in small corporations, can prevent an corporation from establishing up a wellness program. Reasons can include –

• lack of budget resources;

• lack of staff;

• lack of senior-level support;

• little knowledge of the wellness concept and;

• concern about making wellness available to all employees.

As reported by the Health Promotion Councils of America, some small business owners might have the wrong idea of what is involved in having a health promotion program.

Some corporations aren’t sure a wellness program would really work and others feel that trying to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.  

Perhaps they do not understand that it doesn’t need to be expensive and that they do not need special staff. They might not realize that some staff would like to see some healthful changes and would help make things happen in their worksite.

It can be Done

A lot of small companies have found ways to have a health promotion program that works for them. They keep the cost and effort to a minimum and still have results that are positive for everyone.

In 2006, Graham Lowe wrote a report on the best places to work in Calgary. He said that healthful worksites often have a “positive worksite culture”.  In a worksite with a positive culture, individuals  feel appreciated, valued, and trusted.

Dr. Lowe says it is easier for a small worksite to have a positive worksite culture than for a big worksite. A lot of workforce prefer to work for a small company, he says, because it provides more opportunities to work closely with others and develop a sense of community.

In his report, Dr. Lowe says the most successful corporations with fewer than 100 personnel have –

• great employee benefits;

• policies that promote a balance between work and personal life;

• flexible schedules;

• competitive salaries;

• great leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;

• environmentally responsible organization policies;

• procedures for seeking employee input; and

• A focus on placing employees’ personal well-being ahead of the personal gain of company leaders.

All or most of these elements are also components of a good health promotion program.

Tips and Ideas

There are many ways to include wellness in a small business. You do not necessarily need a wellness professional or a fancy health and fitness center.

What you do need is support from upper-level management and a committee of a few committed individuals . Here are some ideas that your worksite can consider.

Communications and Promotion

• Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter in hard copy or online. Or send out a simple message like the weekly Healthy U Hot Tip.

• Use promotions that are already designed such as Healthy Worksite Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

• Be sure to encourage staff to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing competition.

• Get pedometers for personnel and track their steps.

• Rent a nearby school or community health and fitness center and offer exercise classes.

• Hire a local fitness instructor to give courses or lead stretch breaks. Costs could be shared with employees.

• Install secure bike parking.

• Serve healthy alternatives at business meetings and lunches.

Policy and Organizational Programs

• Hire an ergonomics professional to assess workstations.

• Develop policies to support work-life balance (for example, mandatory vacations, flextime, limits to work and e-mail on personal time).

• Give a wellness subsidy for a selection of health and leadership activities and courses.

• Provide financial incentives to be healthy.

• Offer wellness incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.

• Conduct an organizational health audit (NQI Healthy Worksite Week).

• Become a partner with the community (for example, daycare, gyms, festivals, parks, restaurants).

• Spread the workload. Be sure to set up a wellness committee.

Small businesses may not have a lot of time, money, or human resources (HR) available for a wellness program. But they often have a immense advantage over large companies-a positive worksite culture.

That is a great foundation for a health promotion program. When personnel are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they’re more productive, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small corporations can develop successful health promotion programs.

Get support from management, form a committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!