Healthy Workplaces
Building a Stronger Community
There are many unique, fun and engaging ways to increase health and wellness in the workplace. Even adding and encouraging small healthy habits can have big impacts to bottom lines, attendance and productivity. It is no wonder companies are integrating health and wellness strategies around the world.
Best Practices to Build a Healthy Workplace
Establish team challenges like walking or water bottle challenges that encourage healthier lifestyles.
Incorporate random drawings or prizes to incentivize health challenges.
Analyze and look at ways to improve ergonomics, even in work-from-home spaces.
Sponsor employees and encourage staff to form teams for community 5k races.
Host a blood drive.
Host health or cancer screenings on-site.
Offer flu-shots to employees on-site.
Accommodate nursing mothers.
Encourage alternative transportation options and participate in National Dump the Pump Day.
Offer yoga or meditation classes during lunch breaks.
Provide discounts to fitness centers as a part of the company benefits plan.
Provide healthy snacks and meals during meetings and ensure vending machines have healthy options.
Host lunch and learns on topics related to health and wellness.
Tips for Developing a Healthy Company Culture
Lead by example and engage multiple levels of leadership.
Create sustainable action plans that are fun and engaging.
Ask for employee suggestions to ensure buy-in and participation.
Secure internal and external partnerships to execute the plan.
Review benefit plans and ensure they match needs of employees.
Ensure employees are aware of the benefits that exist.
Create a health portal or mobile app as a resource for employees.
Benefits to the Company
Absenteeism rate reduced
Employee engagement increased
Stress in the workplace decrease
Increased productivity
Cost of health premiums decreased
Supermarket H-E-B did an internal analysis that showed annual health care claims are about $1,500 higher among nonparticipants in its workplace wellness program than among participants with a high-risk health status. The company estimates that moving 10% of its employees from high- and medium-risk to low-risk status yields an ROI of 6 to 1.
Johnson & Johnson’s leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent.
Connect and Explore
Additional Resources
Healthy Meeting Guidelines by Healthy Savannah