Encouraging Better Health in Employees at a Small Business
The workplace has been established as one of the priority settings for health advancement. Having wellness in the workplace is not just for a big business it is also for small businesses. As entrepreneurs, you can encourage wellness, too.
Implementing a “healthy workplace” you can reap the benefits. They can include increased employee morale; decreased absenteeism increased productivity and decreased health insurance premiums. Most importantly, if you offer employees the educational tools and resources to purchase their own individual health insurance, they will strive to be healthier due to their individual accountability and financial gains.
Keep in mind, the best wellness programs don’t come from upper management, they come from the employees themselves. Take inventory and ask employees what they’re interested in and if they will be more likely to engage in a healthy lifestyle and company-sponsored programs.
Think about offering wellness education, health tips for employees to maximize their exercise regimens, and other low-cost options to make getting healthy fun. Weekly group exercise regimens for employees to voluntarily participate in are also great starters. The professional benefits are endless when employees are living their best life both at work and at home. As entrepreneurs, that’s exactly what we want.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
We use a voucher system whereby we give employees vouchers which they can use for a range of health and wellbeing options. They are supplied by an Australian company called RedBalloon Days, but for sure you have something similar in the States. The beauty is that they get to choose!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Thank you, that’s a great idea. Many states offer these programs for instance Michigan offers this and the company is called Healthy Blue.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Gosh… this totally reads like you view your employees as cattle. Do you truly have no interest in their health beyond how much profit it will generate for you? Do you take any responsibility for making the actual place of work healthy?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
It’s interesting that you get that feeling from my blog. I agree with you,you have to view your employees as your most valuable asset. Actually, we do try to create a healthy workplace by having weekly team runs from the office and purchasing healthy food for everyone. What do you do in your workplace?