Posts from — May 2010

A lot of organizations recognize the need for a robust strategy to help their workers be the best they can be.

They also know that successful and sustainable wellness programs are much more than several “lunch and learn” programs.

Your wellness program should include a wide range of key elements, including –

• A clear agenda or statement of objectives.

• A plan characterized by passion.

• an effective leader who is creative and organized.

• A focus on short-term outcomes combined with an overall vision.

• A measurable strategy (what’s important gets measured!).

• A policy of celebrating and communicating success.

Planning Your Wellness Program

Plan carefully to ensure that your wellness program is seen as part of a wide commitment to maintaining the health and safety of all employees. Yes, creating a good plan takes a lot of effort and time (and sometimes resources).

But planning is essential and well worth the investment required. as the saying goes, “failing to plan is planning to fail.”

You may begin by conducting a recent survey of employee needs and interests. When you take this route, pay attention to the results and plan accordingly. When you don’t, the workers won’t support the program.

Gathering information about what you’re already offering is also a good idea. for  instance, you may be surprised by your business or corporation’s current wellness and health policies.

Another important step is to establish an agenda and/or measurable objectives to help you determine priorities, timelines and the resources required to launch the program. be bold and creative in your planning, but also realistic.

Leadership

The leader of your wellness program must be able to wear many hats. the leader’s duties include –

• Developing a vision of the wellness program after receiving input from all interested staff members.

• Communicating ideas and a rationale throughout the organization (to senior level managers and fellow workers alike).

• Keeping others enthusiastic about and committed to a wellness program.

• Serving as a role model and wellness coach.

• Developing and maintaining leadership skills like giving effective presentations and being well-organized.

Good leaders avoid becoming overwhelmed by overly ambitious and complex plans. You may want to stick to short-term goals at the beginning so that you get immediate and visible results.

These first steps are the basis for a successful wellness program.

Good leaders involve as many people  as possible in the program. for  instance, you will want to form a committee made up of a diverse group of workers to provide advice during the planning phase. This approach will –

• Be certain to help you to obtain valuable information from all parts of the business.

• Create ambassadors who will help you implement the wellness program.

Keeping Score and Celebrating

Always keep in mindhow you’ll monitor progress and evaluate the success of your wellness program. Evaluation permits you to –

• Identify areas of excellence.

• Identify factors that affect participation in your programs.

• Gain management’s support for your efforts (and maintain that support).

• Better understand issues that need attention.

• Learn from mistakes and change the program to keep it on the right track.

When you evaluate your program, you are able to measure such things as –

• Worker absences.

• Staff Member turnover rates.

• the cost of your worker assistance program.

• the cost of benefits, including short-term and long-term disability payments.

• the cost of your drug plan.

• Accident rates and safety records.

• Employees’ participation in wellness programs (and whether they’re staying in the programs).

• Changes in employees’ health habits.

• Level of employees’ awareness of healthful lifestyle issues.

• Results of your environmental wellness audit.

• Other noticeable changes in areas such as morale and job satisfaction.

A good communications plan provides ongoing information to workers (including upper managers) and fosters excitement about the wellness program.

Positive reinforcement is part of an effective communications plan. for  instance, you might recognize people  who have assisted set up the program or offer tangible rewards for achieving objectives.

Everyone needs to know whether employees are getting involved, enjoying the activities and getting some benefit from them. Showing that a wellness program has financial benefits is often an important factor in maintaining strong support from the top.

When you pay attention to the key elements of your wellness program and communicate openly and continuously while planning and delivering it, you will lay a solid foundation and leave a legacy that lasts.

How does exercise fit into a full-time employee’s busy schedule? Often, it doesn’t.

One possible solution to this challenge is to make exercise a part of the work day. Obviously, being active at work is beneficial for employees.

But employers also benefit from having fit, energetic and healthy staff members who are more productive.

The challenges

Your job takes up a lot of your time. In addition to the hours you spend actually working, there’s the time required to get to and from work and take lunch and rest breaks during the work day.

In the end, there are a not many hours left over for the rest of your life. This work life imbalance is particularly true for Alberta, where statistics show that we work exceptionally hard.

A lot of jobs today are sedentary, and many American Citizens drive to work. the pressures of work may also cause us to eat lunch at our desks and skip breaks.

Then, after work or on the weekends we juggle household chores, family responsibilities and social engagements.

Wellness Programs –  Get began on a workplace fitness program

Management plays a key role in creating a culture that promotes health. the leaders at your workplace influence the various policies and the informal or formal practices, and these policies and practices affect your attitude towards healthful active living.

Begin by talking to your boss about the advantages of a healthy active workplace. the best way to ensure the success of a workplace fitness program is to have the management on side and cheering you on.

Ask your boss to consider taking these actions –

• Send a memo or message about the importance of health and healthful living that encourages staff to take an active break each day.

• Provide for flexible work hours that help staff to be more physically active. for example, they may need to take a longer lunch break to attend an exercise class, making up the time by coming to work early or staying late.

• Make available a meeting room or other suitable office space for noon-hour yoga or exercise classes, and hire a teacher to lead them, or use videos.

If your boss agrees to support a workplace fitness program, don’t forget to say thanks.

You do not need an on-site fitness center

Only very big corporations can afford on-site fitness facilities like exercise equipment or squash courts. Still, most employers can take other inexpensive steps to support workers who wish to become more active.

For  instance –

• Arrange for discounted fees for staff members at a fitness club, recreation centeror YMCA facility.

• Install showers and a place to hang a towel. (Be certain the showers are cleaned regularly and that women who use them will feel secure.)

• Install bicycle racks or a locked enclosure that is safe, conveniently located and well lighted.

• Hold walking meetings and set up lunch-hour walking groups

• Make staff members aware of safe and pleasant walking routes near the workplace, as well as nearby facilities that offer exercise programs (such as walking, swimming, running, yoga, stretching).

• Hire a qualified instructor to teach staff about health, fitness and how to become more active.

Any size and type of workplace can support employees who wish to be physically active. It’s highly desirable to get management on side.

Even when your boss isn’t supportive, you can still find ways to get moving more. Make certain to set up activities for groups and person, and encourage your peers to join in.

We all know that exercise is an important part of health and wellness. But sometimes it’s hard to find time for exercise.

Lack of time is the number one barrier that individuals  say prevents them from participating in physical activity on a regular basis.

The good news is that even short sessions of physical activity help your health. Research has shown that 10-minute sessions that add up to between 30 and 60 minutes a day can produce significant health benefits.

Additionally, there are numerous ways busy people  can use to be more active. These strategies include –

• multi-tasking

• being active at work

• being active with loved ones

• scheduling activity into daily life

Different strategies work for different individuals . Being familiar with the different strategies is key to adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Read on to review strategies you can attempt. With enough commitment, some of them are sure to work for you.

Strategy #1 –  Multi-tasking

The first strategy you can try is multi-tasking. This means doing things you already do, but in a more physically active way.

This way you get done what you need to get done and you get physical activity at the same time.

For  instance, you are already travelling to work and other places. Instead of taking the automobile or the bus every time, attempt using active methods of transportation like bicycling, inline skating, walking and skateboarding.

When you cannot use active transportation for a whole trip, attempt to be active for at least part of the trip. When you’re riding the bus, for example, get off several blocks early and walk the rest of the way.

Active transportation benefits your body by increasing your activity level, and it also benefits your neighbourhood and the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road.

You can also get physical activity while doing housework and chores.

When you’re working around home, try to be creative and look for the active option. for  instance, if you’re cleaning the crack between the fridge and the counter, why not move the fridge so you are able to clean the area better and build your strength at the same time?

For outdoor work, opt for the old-fashioned way of doing things, as they’re usually more active. for example, use a snow shovel rather than a snow blower.

Strategy #2 –  be Active at Work

Many Americans spend eight hours a day or more working at a sedentary job. Here are several simple ways to keep your body moving during the workday.

The physical activity will revitalize you and help you be more productive.

When you’re working at your desk, attempt sitting on a stability ball or disk for part of your day (30 minutes to an hour). This gives your back and abdominals a workout.

Take active breaks at least once a day. During your coffee break, attempt doing some yoga, stretching or taking a quick walk.

You might find that walking up and down the stairs a few times does a better job of rejuvenating you than the java jolt.

Speaking of the stairs, take them instead of the elevator whenever you can. the stairs in your building are an opportunity to get your heart pumping.

Organize walking meetings at work. Getting outside and having meetings in a less formal establishing is a excellent way to be active, makes the workday more fun and encourages creative ideas for work projects.

Strategy #3 –  be Active With Your Loved Ones

Do exercise with your family, friends, neighbours and pets. With this strategy, you and your loved ones are doing some great multi-tasking together –  enjoying quality time with each other and getting some exercise that you all need to be healthy.

Go for walks, swims or bicycle rides together. Play Frisbee, soccer and other games and sports together. When you take your children to the park, play with them instead of just watching them play.

Many community facilities offer courses that keep you and your kids active at the same time. Research these courses and take one or two.

You can even be active when you’re watching your children do activities without you. for  instance, if your child plays hockey, take the opportunity to walk up and down the stairs in the stands several times.

If you feel self-conscious about doing it alone, why not gather a group of parents to do it together?

Strategy #4 –  Schedule Exercise into Your Day

Schedule your exercise directly into your daytimer. Be certain to set a specific time and place for exercising. Make your exercise appointments a priority, just as important as any other appointment you put in your daytimer.

To help you stay committed to your physical activity appointments, you might want to make appointments that involve other people  -  such as by meeting with a fitness trainer, taking an exercise class or jogging with a friend.

When you’re not sure how many appointments to make or what you ought to be doing during your appointments, try consulting with a fitness trainer. A fitness trainer can help you create a physical activity plan and schedule.

The bottom line –  figure out what works best for you. Experiment with the strategies. Find inspiration by talking to other individuals  about how they keep active and what strategies they use.

Be creative and patient while you figure out what strategies work best for you. and be aware that your “best strategy” may change from time to time.

With enough effort, you’ll discover what works for you. Then, run with it!

• Commit to workplace exercise in policy statements and commit funding to exercise initiatives.

• Obviously communicating the advantages of being physically active during the workday reinforces the corporation’s commitment to assisting all employees be active.

Use meetings, bulletin boards, newsletters and e-mail to reach as many staff members as possible at least once a year.

• Offer flex time for physical activity. Invite employees who actively commute to work or exercise during lunchtime to make up any missed time later in the day.

• Allow staff to work part time, so that they can participate in exercise.

• Include a physical activity account in your benefit plan to pay for or subsidize fitness memberships, assessments, classes, counselling or instruction.

• Provide interest-free loans for staff members to buy bicycles or good walking shoes/runners.

• Conduct periodic surveys of staff physical activity preferences, and offer a variety of options to suit those interests and needs.

• Hire certified people  to lead stretch breaks or exercise programs or classes. for help in finding accredited fitness leaders, visit Alberta’s Provincial Fitness Unit.

• Recognize staff members who participate in exercise. Survey staff members first to determine how they prefer to be recognized, e.g., through company newsletters, appreciation lunches, rewards and/or thank you notes.

• Give child care and other family-friendly amenities during physical activities that occur after work.

• Avoid scheduling meetings over lunch.

• Make sure to encourage active breaks in lieu of coffee breaks.

• Have active fundraisers rather than bingos. for  instance, workers might climb the Calgary Tower stairs or take turns riding a stationary bike for 24 hours.

• Make birthday celebrations active times. Instead of a lunch, invite the birthday individuals to select an activity. Options could include a session with a yoga instructor or an evening ski trip.

• Promote a casual dress day. One study found that employees who dress casually were more physically active.

• Be sure that your building’s stairwells are clean, attractive and safe, and post signs encouraging employees to use the stairs.

• Establish a wellness newsletter or intranet.

• Promote the Activity Tracker and encourage workers to track their exercise every week.

• be creative, and make the most of the workspace you have. for  instance, mark off a safe walking path inside or around the building.

You might also set up a training circuit, highlighting features of the worksite like stairs.

• Offer exercise opportunities at different times to accommodate night-, shift-, and part-time employees.

• for staff members in remote or satellite offices, offer equal access to key programs via the intranet. Adapt challenges to suit their environment and take advantage of local facilities and resources.

• Make physical activity available to employees with special needs. Adapt information and activities for any staff who are visually impaired or physically disabled as well as for individuals  who speak English as a second language.

• Educate staff members about exercise using information from reputable sources like the Alberta Center for Active Living.

• Offer facilities that invite onsite exercise. Possibilities include bike racks, an exercise room, change rooms with lockers and showers, and safe and attractive grounds for walking.

• Hold walking meetings.

• Be certain to encourage staff members to walk to coworkers’ offices in lieu of e-mailing or phoning.

• Be sure to set up a stretching room. This low-cost initiative requires only a room, stretching mats, stability balls and medicine balls. Put up posters that show stretches and exercises.

• Give incentives such as shoe bags, ball caps, T-shirts or water bottles to reward staff participation.

• Loan out pedometers for three months, so that staff members can find out how many steps they generally take and how much activity they need to add to get basic health benefits.

• Make space for workers to plant and maintain a flowerbed or garden at the workplace. Use any resulting produce for meetings and potluck lunches or donate it to charity.

• Plan a workplace health fair.

• Hire a licensed fitness specialist to design and manage an onsite fitness facility.

• Supply workers with active wear that shows off the company logo.

• Organize a launch event to create excitement about upcoming activities and to create a social climate that establishes being active as the norm.

• Organize and promote monthly or bi-monthly company events that are fun and active, e.g., picnics with physical games, staff tournaments and dragon boat racing.

Make certain to encourage families to join in by including all-ages events such as relay races, soccer matches, bocce ball and baseball games.

• Begin a swim club at a local pool. Invite groups of staff members to swim the distance of a nearby lake. Convert kilometres to lengths and reward staff members who complete the swim.

Be certain to set up a challenge between staff members and managers to see who covers the greatest distance.

• Post a sign-up board where staff can join a group or find a buddy to participate in activities of interest.

• Arrange a business badminton tournament that lasts several months, with each worker playing once a week. Post the results as the tournament progresses.

• Organize an office Olympics, World Cup, Wimbledon or Masters Games. Invite teams to compete in several activities over a month. Reward everybody who participates.

• Create a point system in which one minute of activity is equivalent to one point. Make sure to set a target, and post a chart where all employees can track their points. Reward the first group to reach that target.

• Co-ordinate a stair climb challenge. Post a chart at the top of the stairwell, and encourage staff members to track the number of flights of stairs they climb each workday.

Be sure to set up teams, and award a prize to the first team to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest.

• Post and promote a sign-up board for lunchtime walking groups.

• Organize a walk “across the USA ” Pick a route, figure out how many steps it would take to walk that distance and challenge employees to do it.

Give or loan pedometers to staff members, and ask them to record the number of steps they take. Or, when you cannot afford pedometers, track the minutes walked. Make sure to set up a challenge between staff members and managers to see who can walk across the United States  first.

• Co-ordinate a walk to work club. Acknowledge staff members who either walk to work or walk to public transit.

• Have a volunteer group leader guide weekly lunchtime power walks.

• Coordinate a million-step challenge. Form groups, challenge each group to walk a combined sum of a million steps and reward the winner. Departments or sites could compete with each other and with management.

• Challenge staff members to walk 10,000 steps a day. Purchase pedometers for all participating staff members or, if you cannot afford that, make pedometers available at a decreased rate.

Provide tips for increasing daily steps, and reward staff members who succeed.

There is no single right way to approach wellness programs but winning programs share common success factors. These include commitment from management, staff member involvement, adequate resources, and a policy on health that goes hand in hand with the corporation’s mission, vision and values.

Wellness Program –  A Range of Approaches

Although the goal is to eventually have a long-term, comprehensive wellness program, some corporations prefer to start with a single program at a basic level.

For example, the first steps may be as simple as offering lunch-hour sessions on first aid or healthful eating; or they could launch a pilot project to find out how interested employees are to ensure employees needs are being met before taking on anything more ambitious.

This approach provides a chance to show the impact on staff members and the workplace so management will be more willing to consider a bigger and more far-reaching strategy.

Other companies plan a variety of programs to meet the needs of the different kinds of individuals  that make up their workforce. and some decide to create a sound corporation case, complete with a health strategy, before trying any type of program.

Corporations want to ensure that a new program is fully integrated with their overall corporation vision and mission.

Wellness Program –  Success Factors

Whether your business chooses to think big from the outset or to start with something smaller, always keep in mindthe following key success factors –

• support and participation from management;

• employee involvement in planning;

• programs that meet employee needs;

• a realistic budget; and

• continuous review.

In sports, a game plan is a series of steps that a team must follow to accomplish its goal of winning. Most winning teams plan to win. Organizations also need game plans, even if they do not call them by that name.

Good planning will help to ensure that your wellness program happens the way you want it to, and that costs may be identified in advance and kept within budget. Good planning prevents small problems from becoming bigger.

Steps in Planning a Wellness Program

Obtain management support. You might need to create a company case to convince managers that the wellness program is a company strategy-that employee health and job satisfaction affects their productivity. Workers need to see evidence that  executive management believes in and is committed to employee health.

Establish a planning committee. Members can include representatives from staff member groups in addition to from human resources (HR), health and safety, and communications.

Collect information. to prove that your program is beneficial, establish a benchmark before the program starts. You may wish to look at worker satisfaction, absenteeism rates, stress levels, drug costs or WCB expenses.

Assess what workplace facilities are available to support staff members to make healthful options such as showers and change areas or a secure place to store a bicycle. Assess staff member needs through a recent survey or questionnaire, suggestion box or focus group. Communicate the results.

Develop the plan to reflect the information gathered. Include program goals, activities and how you’re going to measure whether your goals were met.

Keep the plan flexible. You could have to change direction in response to worker feedback or changes in the corporation’s structure.

Get management approval. Support for staff time and a budget are needed.

Put activities in place. Offer a variety of activities that develop awareness, increase knowledge, develop skills, and provide social interaction.

Activities could include walking clubs, participation in national campaigns such as Corporate Wellness Week, SummerActive, WinterActive, corporate challenge, golf days, and newsletters that provide information about community resources.

Workplaces can also make it easier for workers to make healthy choices by providing flextime to allow workers to fit activity in when it is convenient or by subsidizing programs in cooperation with community or private fitness facilities. A policy on catering for meetings can ensure that healthy foods are offered.

Evaluate the plan. Share your successes with others, learn from your mistakes and modify activities.

A wellness program does not have to be complicated or a gigantic investment. Just do it. Get support from management, bring several committed individuals  together to generate some ideas and get started.