Summer is right around the corner and for many of us that means sloughing the winter fluff put on from being indoors and indulging in holiday goodies from Halloween to Easter. May is recognized as Global Employee Health and Fitness Month. What does this mean for you as business owners? This month is a great time to encourage your employees to be healthier in and out of the office!
But where do you start? After all, as a business owner you want to be sure employee productivity is high while costs remain low. Many employers see worksite health and wellness programs as an added cost with little return. However, Forbes.com reported that “wellness programs have been shown to boast an average return on investment (ROI) of about 3:1.” With that in mind, how can you afford not to start a health and wellness program?
Think about the needs of your employees. What types of wellness trends are you noticing? Are there healthy habits already among your staff that you could continue to encourage? Do you wish you noticed less afternoon dozers at their desks? Have you heard that employee morale is low? Are employees feeling stressed or burnt out? The answers to these observations are a great place to start. If a small group of employees already walk on their breaks or lunches, encourage this behavior by offering incentives to all employees who log and report their walking. You may find that encouraging employees to walk during their afternoon break reduces the “zzz’s” in their cubicles during that time. Maybe offering a stress management class, team building activity, or just a fun staff event would improve morale.
Check out this success story reported by Partnership for Prevention’s “Leading by Example” booklet:
Ollis and Company, risk and benefit advisors in Springfield, Missouri has 30 employees. Among other program components in the company wellness program, fresh fruit is offered free every day to employees; six wellness presentations per year offered to employees; and fitness center, exercise classes, and home gym expenses are reimbursed. Ollis and Company experienced “improved employee morale, company loyalty, and stress reduction.”
“Leading by Example” is a wonderful resource, specifically for small and medium-sized businesses looking to begin a health and wellness program. In it, the importance of creating a culture of health is the foundation of increasing workplace health. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines culture of health as: “The creation of a working environment where employee health and safety is valued, supported, and promoted…” As multiple levels of management participate in encouraging wellness and small measurable programs are put into place, the culture of your organization will shift. As this culture shifts to the positive, the benefits will be experienced by all, in a very literal way.
Local Resources
Your community may have some excellent resources and incentives that your company can partake in as well! Missoula’s Missoula in Motion (www.missoulainmotion.com) advocates bicycling all year round in Missoula and rewards participants monthly! May is also Bike Month in Missoula with events slated all month long.
About the Author:
Ashley is a born and raised Bitterrooter who regained her roots after moving back to Montana in 2014. When she isn’t planning her next great adventure with her three children, she can be found outdoors soaking up sun, water, and fresh air. Ashley has learned that life is unpredictable and the best laid plans are ones built with flexibility and passion. Her favorite planning tools are her epic lists that float in and out of drawers and counters, and her detailed agenda in Google Calendar. She has recently discovered the excitement of capturing her life in pictures and documents her foodie, outdoor, kiddie, scenic, and more spontaneous moments on Instagram. You can follow her daily adventures on Instagram.
