According to one columnist, you really can’t fail in creating a workplace wellness program. Here’s a tool to help you do it.
If one thing impressed us while writing our recent article on new HIPAA rules for workplace wellness programs, it was this quote from Indiana employment law attorney and business columnist Jim Jorgensen, as reported on the website NWI.com.
“Success [with a wellness program] at almost any level should lower health-related costs, and a healthier work force is typically more productive and has a better attendance record.”
It was the “success at any level” part of the comment that was the eye-opener. It does seem to be true.
Our reporting on the wellness program phenomenon thus far shows there’s almost no way to fail with such a program. ROI has been calculated at some 300 percent over 6 years, on average, and some companies do a lot better. One mid-sized Nebraska company we reported on achieved a 6 to 1 payback on its wellness investment.
All you need to bring a wellness program to your workplace … inexpensively, legally, and successfully. It’s BLR’s new Workplace Wellness: Healthy Workers, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI. Check it out at no cost or risk. Click for info.
At BLR, we haven’t just talked the talk about wellness. We’ve walked the walk as well … literally. Our Connecticut staff engages in numerous company-subsidized activities, including organized walks, and a weight-reduction program run in conjunction with the Weight Watchers® organization was recently put in place. Our CEO, Bob Brady, has long been a fitness advocate, serving on the board of directors at an area “Y.”
How do you start one of these programs?
For answers, we turn to a new BLR guide, titled Workplace Wellness: Healthy Employees, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI. These are the steps the book lays out in creating and operating a plan at your workplace.
–Create a Wellness Champion Among Senior Management. Likely not difficult, once you explain the human and economic payback and the fact that health insurance costs are jumping 8 percent to 12 percent yearly. (One forecast for the current year predicts a rise of 11.3 percent.) That’s not to mention the fact that nearly every CEO publication we’ve seen recently has an article on wellness! To get the ball rolling, we’ll give you a template that neatly lays out for your senior management the reasons wellness has become the hot trend in corporate circles.
–Assess the Current Level of Wellness at Your Workplace. Do this through surveys and checklists that inquire about specific health concerns for your industry and operation. The book provides the forms to do it.
–Create a Customized Operating Plan. This should include writing a mission statement, setting goals and timelines, and assigning responsibility. (The book follows the SMART method … creating a plan that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed.) You’ll also need to consider how your plan interfaces with the HIPAA, ADA, and other laws. The book explains how to stay in compliance, including use of the latest HIPAA revisions that allow you to reward participating employees without violating nondiscrimination statutes.
–Launch Your Program. Use creativity, according to Workplace Wellness, with measures such as running a contest to name the program and coming up with appropriate rewards. The book suggests many approaches to make wellness fun, and includes detailed direction on how to run a health fair.
Click here to examine BLR’s Workplace Wellness: Healthy Workers, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI for 30 days at no cost and no risk!
–Communicate, Educate, Motivate, Empower. Build wellness into your company’s operations and culture, suggests the book. One example: Establish a regular wellness announcement time at department meetings. Also suggested: For maximum empowerment, let the workers run the program as much as possible.
–Measure, Assess, and Adjust. There are numerous metrics to show how well your program is working, from improvements in absentee rates and health insurance premiums to changes in weight and cholesterol. The book provides a full set of assessment tools.
If you’d like to examine Workplace Wellness: Healthy Employees, Healthy Families, Healthy ROI on a no-cost, no-obligation basis for 30 days, we’ve arranged for you to do so. Click below, and we’ll be happy to set it up.
Improve Your Company’s Health … and Its Bottom Line!
Studies show you can do both with a well-planned wellness program. Now BLR has a brand-new complete guide to help you easily set one up and achieve both a healthier workforce and an ROI that could exceed 300 percent! Try it for 30 days! Learn more.
New! BLR now publishes a monthly wellness newsletter and poster program for employees. Give your workers the information they need for better health for as little as 33 cents a month. To get a sample of the new Taking Care of You! and complete pricing info, call us at 800-727-5257 or send an email request to service@blr.com.