Wellness Program Blog

Hollywood Stars or American Celebrities

This is another fun exercise focusing on healthy weight loss or maintenance.

• Members choose a secret code name (the name of a Hollywood star or other celebrity).
• Members weigh in with a “trusted” confident in private – at which time a healthy weight objective is set for the course of the contest.
• Display a chart with everyone’s secret name assigning each a beginning weight of zero.
• Members weigh themselves weekly and turn in the weight with their code name on the paper.
• Weight is reported in relation to an initial weight of zero. By way of example +4 would mean a weight gain of four pounds; while –2 would indicate a weight loss of two pounds.
• Future weigh-ins ought to be in relation to the starting weight, not the previous week’s weight.
• The chart is kept up to date and put up publicly by the Company Wellness  Committee.
• Display a “weight management hint of the week” nearby the tracking chart.
• Provide “take one” handouts on weight management education or motivational tips by the chart.
• Celebrate employee progress at the end of the exercise.

Wellness Book/Journal Club and/or Book Exchange

Similar to any other book discussion group, the readings and focus of this group is health. With a broad “health” definition, countless subjects could be appropriate including communication, self-improvement, relationships, money management, environment, ecology, recreation, cooking, etc. Let the group choose the topics and books. Another suggested idea is to establish a book swap area where readers can trade the book(s) for those that others have left for trade.

Pre-Work Stretching Group

A couple of minutes of gentle stretching is an effective way to safely begin the workday. A certified fitness instructor may be asked in to instruct proper stretching techniques. Following that, most often an internal group is able to meet and run itself. Provide periodic refresher sessions with the trainer or instructor to change up the routine and help keep participants motivated.

Considerations for workplace stretching:
• See that you work with your Upper Management Team for stretching endorsement.
• Stretches ought to be taught by a knowledgeable and qualified person.
• Even though pre-work stretches are performed on an employee’s personal time, the question of company liability will probably arise, particularly if someone reports an associated muscular injury. Check with your employer’s legal counsel and/or contact your company workers’ compensation provider to assist in design of an employee release of liability waiver.

Worksite Chair Massage

Bring in a certified massage therapist to offer chair massage at the employees’ expense. These massages are performed totally clothed with the recipient seated in a chair. The therapist brings in a special chair that totally supports the head and shoulders while an upper body massage is given. Sessions are usually fifteen minutes, with a mean cost between $12.00 – $15.00 for each session. Post a sign up sheet with appointments at intervals recommended by the therapist. Be sure the therapist is certified. It will be essential to offer a private space. A group of “regulars” may evolve which could establish a regular massage schedule. Obtain an agreement with management so workers can trade massage time for coffee or personal break time.  Note: management may want the therapist to supply proof of liability insurance.

Art at Work

Art can be a great way to nurture employees’ creative side and allow them to manage stress at the same time. Bring in various art and craft supplies once a month and allow the creative juices flow. If participants are willing, have a temporary “art show” later on. Or, feature employee creativity during certain months or times of the year. Urge workers to display their art in their personal workspaces.

Healthy Email-a-Week

Set up an email list of coworkers who wish to receive an inspirational, humorous or educational health quote, thought, tip or idea once a week by email. Ask members of the Company Wellness  Committee to collect ideas initially, and then ask the members of the email list to contribute ideas and information as time goes on. Follow all company rules concerning work time and email protocols.

Hobby Show or Demonstrations

Hobbies are great stress management tools. Urge workers to display their talents by sponsoring a “hobby fair” or demonstration. Send around a sign up sheet. See who would be able to bring in samples of their hobby, and maybe even do a live demonstration. Fairs or demonstrations can be scheduled as a group exercise or brown bag that allows interested workers to interact. Or, hobby sharing can be done in groupings by topic over a scheduled period of time, allowing for a brief presentation and/or demonstration on the part of the hobbyist.

Group support and encouragement can be very beneficial in helping workers make healthy changes. Create situations, peer groups, or information avenues where the expertise and experiences of coworkers can be shared with others. Some ideas for offering worksite support for healthy changes include:

• Workers can be asked to voluntarily submit suggestions, advice, and strategies related to particular healthy practices they have successfully implemented in their lives. By way of example, ex-smokers can be asked to submit suggestions about what worked for them when they quit; then those ideas can be shared in newsletters, handouts, classes, etc.
• Topics like weight management, stress management, managing change, increasing exercise, etc. lend themselves to this development of collective wisdom sharing.
• Behavior change support groups, created based on employee interest in making healthy change, can meet on regularly to share ideas, resources, support, etc. Company Wellness Programs can offer some help and facilitation in getting a group going. The group then itself takes charge of keeping the group going. Periodically the wellness program can offer to bring in a presenter on a topic relevant to the group. Be sure to help the group set ground rules that everyone agrees to before the group is left on its own.

A health fair is an opportune way to familiarize workers with health problems and related wellness programs. During a health fair workers might be able to get resource materials; take part in provided health screenings (vision, hearing, blood, blood lipids, cancer, dental, etc.); observe demonstrations on the use of exercise equipment; go to mini-classes on various health topics; get no cost promotional items from local employers; try healthy foods; and pick up information about their health benefit plan.

Some employers hold a “health & benefit fair” which includes vendors representing the various employee benefit plans (long-term disability, retirement, etc.) available to workers through their company.

Considerations when coordinating a health fair:

• Setting up a efficacious health fair takes extensive time. Time problems ought to be taken into account in planning and organizing such an event. The most time consuming part is generally contacting potential participants, making arrangements for their participation, confirming their participation, and setting up the day of the event.
• Sufficient space, tables and chairs must be available to allow for the number of vendors involved. Some vendors may have portable displays or materials that will require additional space, access to electrical outlets, or other logistical considerations that must be discussed prior to the health fair.
• Vendors will be looking to make contact with as many persons as possible during the event. Securing their commitment to future wellness fairs requires that every effort be made to encourage participation by publicizing the event, selecting the proper venue, and offering incentives/rewards.
• If possible, locate the health fair in an area with heavy foot traffic.
• Ask vendors to provide no cost materials at their table and to make a donation to a prize drawing. Follow all company policies when seeking donations.
• As an idea to improve employee participation and to maintain high interest levels, each attendee could be given a “passport”, similar to a bingo card, to be signed by each vendor. The signed passport serves as the ticket for the prize drawings. Such drawings ought to take place every 15 or 30 minutes.
• Consider teaming up with neighboring employers to stage a health fair. A group effort will spread out the work and maximize participation.

Ideas for a Benefits Fair:

Include representatives from each of your employee benefits provider groups. Ask each vendor to be ready to answer employee questions concerning their program. Representatives could include:

• Retirement plan representative.
• Long-term disability plan representative.
• Health plan representative.
• Health Benefits representative.
• Contract cell phone representative (if applicable).
• Local savings and loan or credit union representative.
• Workers’ compensation representative.

Limited Space for a Health Fair: If space is limited host the fair at lunchtime time. Place stations in company hallways or in individual small conference or office rooms scattered throughout the building. Provide a map with all the stations listed. Have a no cost drawing awarding a prize for anyone who goes to 75 percent of the stations. Use a punch card or similar method to verify.

Resources for health & benefit fairs coordination:

Assume a broad definition of “health” and reflect that by including a variety of vendors and services involved with physical, mental, economic and social health; for example, health agencies, safety employers, benefits providers, local medical care facilities, recreational facilities, parks, monetary planners, childcare referrals, EAP, health clubs, health food stores, library, alternative and complementary medicine providers, etc.

Worksite health screenings can take a variety of forms. Common evaluation components may include:

• Blood Pressure (BP) and pulse rate.
• Cholesterol (typically a finger-stick total cholesterol test, either fasting or non-fasting).
• Blood glucose (diabetes screening).
• Height and weight.
• Percent body fat and/or BMI (body mass index).
• Fitness level.
• Bone Mineral Density(BMD).
• Posture assessment.

Considerations when offering workplace screenings:

• Wellness screenings must be conducted by qualified, and at times, licensed individuals.
• Wellness screenings must be conducted in a location that allows for privacy and confidentiality.
• Time for discussion and explanation screening results must be afforded as part of the evaluation process.
• A process must be in place for referral for participants whose results are indicative of a need for further medical assessment.
• Screenings can be very costly to the central wellness budget OR there may be no expenditure to the program if participants are willing to cover the expenditure of the assessment themselves. By way of example, blood lipid and glucose testing usually costs twenty to twenty-five dollars per person, per exam. Workers may be willing to pay for evaluation in exchange for the convenience of having the evaluation at work.
• It generally works best to have scheduled appointments at intervals sufficient to allow time for the assessment and a brief discussion of results. Therefore, a registration and scheduling process must be devised.
• Some types of evaluation, such as fitness testing, require participants to bring casual clothes in which to do the testing. Workers ought to be notified of the need to dress in a specific manner for the evaluation.
• To ensure high attendance at evaluation activities, it is advisable to begin promotion of the event with reminders to workers.
• Supply workers with “screening preparation” standard procedures to remind them how to prepare for the most accurate evaluation results.

Resources for workplace screenings:

1. Consult with a wellness consultant or health evaluation company.
2. If employee participation is sparse for onsite health screenings, or if offering additional workplace evaluation is an option, check with the community health or outreach department of your local hospital, health education department, occupational health department or workplace health department as to screenings they might offer.
3. Local health clubs may also employ qualified employee for some types of screenings, such as fitness testing or body fat assessment.