By Sara-Jane Linton

Starting a workplace wellness program requires innovative ideas, employee engagement and a constant effort, all of which can be done within a tight budget. The hope is that, when used strategically, workplace wellness becomes part the organizational culture and helps employees understand the value of taking ownership and responsibility of their holistic (mind, body and emotional) health. For the employer, workplace wellness programs should be seen not as an optional benefit, but rather a long-term investment into the health and well-being of their employees.

How to get started

For an employer to truly begin to tailor a workplace wellness program to the employee’s needs, it is important to understand the issues that employees face within the organization (overwhelming job duties, prolonged stress and long work hours). One possible approach to get started is to research similar organizations within the same industry as a reference. However, you should not simply take a wellness program in its entirety from one organization and attempt to implement it within your own. Wellness programs need to be specific fit to the needs and wants of employees and, as a result, will differ with every organization. The success of these programs depends on the input from employees at all levels and their unique needs. Initiating a workplace wellness program is indeed a creative endeavour.

A few ideas that might work for your organization:

Wellness Committees
A wellness committee should be a representation of employees from various departments within the organization. Representatives on the wellness committee make it easier for members to reach out to their colleagues, which ensures ideas and suggestions are equally gathered from all areas of the organization and gives everyone a chance to have their voices heard and provide input. The role of the committee is to take ideas and suggestions for wellness initiatives and make them a reality within the workplace. This can be done by creating electronic newsletters that are sent to all staff and outline various health tips. It can also be done by posting bulletins in common areas (ie lunch rooms) that provide informational updates about the committee’s ongoing projects and initiatives. It is important that wellness committees are seen as an intermediary between employees and the organization.

Wellness Fairs
If your organization has an Employee Assistance Program, you might be able to invite various health experts such as a Nutritionist, Naturopath, Massage Therapist, Fitness Instructor and/or Public Health Nurse to attend an onsite wellness fair where they can present information and answer employee questions relating to different health topics. Wellness fairs allow the organization to showcase health industry experts in one location, at one time, providing employees with the opportunity to learn new positive lifestyle changes to benefit their health. Organizational leaders are encouraged to set a good example by attending these events, as their visibility sends a clear message that participation is important.

Volunteering
There are many ways that your employees can help out your in your local community. Acts of service such as cleaning up a local park or collecting non-perishable food items for a local food bank are just a few ways organizations can make a positive contribution to the boarder community. Volunteering instills empathy and encourages compassion towards others, attributes all organizations should have as part of their core values. The act of volunteering can also be used to enhance team building within an organization. Volunteering outside the organization will hopefully encourage employees to extend the same empathy and compassion toward their colleagues within the organization.

Healthy Food Options
Healthy food choices should always be an option while at work, but this is often not the case during social events. Providing healthy food as an alternate choice at all organizational events shows respect to those actively practicing healthy eating and for those with dietary restrictions who can only partake in selective food options. Part of your workplace wellness programs should be encouraging employees to find ways promote healthy eating wherever possible.

Breaks
Your organization’s leadership should always encourage staff to take breaks away from their desks and to regularly get out of the office It’s very easy to get wrapped up in your work and wind up spending the entire day seated at a desk. Productivity increases when employees separate from their work for short periods of time, giving themselves a chance to decompress and rejuvenate. With the summer upon us, creating a “Walking Group” for exercise and socialization during the lunch hour can help employees manage their work load and minimize daily stress. Taking breaks leads to clarity of mind, relaxation of the body and helps with emotional well-being. All employees, regardless of title or role within the organization, should allow themselves time away from their desk during the work day.

Physical Activity
An option for organizations with the financial means is to hire fitness instructors to facilitate onsite aerobic classes, making it easy for employees to exercise before or after regular work hours (or even on lunch breaks). A more feasible option might be obtaining a corporate or nonprofit membership with a local fitness centre, which may offer group discounts and give employees an incentive to join and participate. Make it easy for employees to participate in physical activity either through an on or offsite fitness program, or even by creating an organizational softball team.

A healthy lifestyle is priceless

Workplace wellness programs have their best results when employees at all levels of the organization are given the chance to provide input into what will be offered. Emphasis should be placed on holistic (mental, physical and emotional) health and teaching positive lifestyles that are easily learned and sustained. Wellness programs constantly evolve and require employee feedback to continue to be relevant over time. With employee input, an open mind and a little creativity, there are many choices available to support workplace wellness, even when working with a small or non-existent budget. Just remember to to keep it fun, allow for participation from everyone within the organization, and keep the focus on holistic health.

Educating employers on the importance of Workplace Health & Wellness initiatives is a passion for Sara-Jane. She actively researches and studies psychosocial issues and its impact to employee health. Sara-Jane has extensive work experience as a Human Resources Professional working for both public and private sectors.

This article was originally published on CharityVillage.com. Reprinted with permission.