Wellness Programs – Small versus Big Company Options.

Can a small organization support company health promotion? Absolutely! In truth, in some ways it is easier to develop a healthy worksite in a small organization than in a large business.

Limited resources, especially in small companies, can prevent an employer from establishing up a wellness program. Reasons can include -

o  lack of budget resources;

o  lack of staff;

o  lack of senior-level support;

o  little knowledge of the wellness theory and;

o  concern about making wellness available to all workforce.

According to the Health Promotion Councils of America, some small business owners might have the wrong idea of what is involved in having a wellness program.

Some companys are not sure a wellness program would really work and others feel that attempting to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.

Perhaps they do not understand that it does not need to be costly and that they do not need special staff. They could not realize that some staff would like to see some healthy changes and would help make things happen in their worksite.

It can be Done

A lot of small businesses have found ways to have a health promotion program that works for them. They keep the cost and effort to a minimum and still have results that are positive for everyone.

In 2006, Graham Lowe wrote a report on the best places to work in Calgary. He said that healthful workplaces often have a “positive workplace culture”.  In a workplace with a positive culture, individuals  feel appreciated, valued, and trusted.

Dr. Lowe says it’s easier for a small workplace to have a positive workplace culture than for a large workplace. A lot of workforce prefer to work for a small business, he says, because it provides more opportunities to work closely with others and create a sense of community.

In his report, Dr. Lowe says the most successful corporations with fewer than 100 workers have -

o  excellent employee benefits;

o  policies that promote a balance between work and personal life;

o  flexible schedules;

o  competitive salaries;

o  excellent leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;

o  environmentally responsible business policies;

o  procedures for seeking staff member input; and

o  A focus on placing employees’ personal well-being ahead of the personal gain of organization leaders.

All or most of these elements are also components of a good wellness program.

Tips and Ideas

There are many ways to include wellness in a small corporation. You don’t necessarily need a wellness professional or a fancy health and fitness center.

What you do need is support from senior level management and a committee of a few committed individuals . Here are some ideas that your worksite can consider.

Communications and Promotion

o  Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter in hard copy or online. Or send out a simple message like the weekly Healthful U Hot Tip.

o  Use promotions that are already designed like Healthy Worksite Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

o  Be certain to encourage staff to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing competition.

o  Get pedometers for workers and track their steps.

o  Rent a nearby school or community gym and offer exercise classes.

o  Hire a local fitness instructor to give classes or lead stretch breaks. Costs can be shared with workers.

o  Install secure bike parking.

o  Serve healthful alternatives at corporation meetings and lunches.

Policy and Organizational Programs

o  Hire an ergonomics expert to assess workstations.

o  Create policies to support work-life balance (for example, mandatory vacations, flextime, limits to work and e-mail on personal time).

o  Give a wellness subsidy for a selection of health and leadership activities and courses.

o  Provide financial incentives to be healthful.

o  Make available wellness incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.

o  Conduct an organizational health audit (NQI Healthy Workplace Week).

o  Become a partner with the community (for example, daycare, fitness clubs, festivals, parks, restaurants).

o  Spread the workload. Be sure to set up a wellness committee.

Small corporations might not have a lot of time, money, or human resources (HR) available for a health promotion program. But they often have a immense advantage over big companiesâ.”a positive workplace culture.

That is a excellent foundation for a health promotion program. When employees are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more productive, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small organizations can develop successful health promotion programs.

Get support from management, form a committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!