Well, here we go again. Isn’t it time again for us to try and tighten our belts? No, I don’t mean financially. I mean literally TRY AND TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.
Right about now, we are starting to become aware of just how ful-FILLING the holidays have been. And so we begin to feel bad, take a deep breath (or at least try to to get our pants to fit again) and make all those promises to get skinny. And guess what? We will probably get the same result. A little success and resolve which will, within two weeks, melt away.
(No, not the weight — the resolve.)
So what are we to do? How can this year be different than the past? To begin, realize that we all do better when we are positive and work with others. Yes, support means a lot! Face it, we aren’t in this alone. All of our friends, family members and fellow employees will be struggling with these same issues.
As employers we can take the lead in this and make a point of letting our employees know that we take health and wellness seriously. The best way is to implement a complete WELLNESS program but not haphazardly. Here are some key steps to take:
- Take the long view and find a wellness vendor who will help you to analyze your organization’s needs and develop a program that fits you and not the other way around. (Why buy something you don’t need just because it is the trend?)
- Encourage your employees and their family members to take a Health Risk Assessment to determine the overall health of your employee (and family members) population. This will also enable you to find those employees who are at risk for conditions that are dangerous or potentially dangerous. There is nothing better than to catch something before it harms or kills someone or costs a lot more to handle.
- Provide coaching for weight management, smoking cessation and overall fitness so that employees have constructive help in becoming and/or remaining healthy.
- Incentivize employees to participate but make sure that the wellness vendor understands the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
- Bring programs on-site that are proactive and fun. Things like yoga, Pilates and fitness are great for that and also create high levels of morale.
- Finally, make it fun!!
There are many things that can be done that cost little or nothing but signal to all employees that you are serious about their health and well-being. Here are a few examples:
- make sure that the food in the vending machines is healthy
- organize walking teams
- have “biggest loser” contests
- provide discounts at local health clubs, YMCAs, or fitness centers
- provide motivational signs encouraging use of stairways instead of elevators
- offer “lunch & learns” focusing on fitness and health issues that offer healthy meals
- occasionally buy bulk fruit or healthy snacks
Whatever you do, remember that focusing on wellness has a tremendous payoff in terms of healthy and engaged employees and decreased health care costs.
Tags: Bernie Dyme, Fitness, GINA, Health, new years resolutions, Perspectives Ltd, Pilates, resolutions, Wellness, yoga
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