Workplace Wellness : Health Promotion Programs - Small vs. Big Company Choices.

Can a small business support company health promotion? Absolutely! Truly, in some ways it’s easier to create a healthful workplace in a small business than in a big company.

Limited resources, namely in small organizations, can prevent an corporation from establishing up a health promotion program. Reasons can include -

• lack of budget resources;

• lack of staff;

• lack of senior-level support;

• little knowledge of the wellness theory and;

• concern about making wellness available to all workers.

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

Some companys aren’t 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 doesn’t need to be expensive 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 workplace.

It can be Done

A lot of small organizations 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 everybody.

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

Dr. Lowe says it’s easier for a small workplace to have a positive workplace culture than for a big workplace. Many workforce prefer to work for a small corporation, he says, because it provides more opportunities to work closely with others and develop a sense of community.

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

• great employee benefits;

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

• flexible schedules;

• competitive salaries;

• excellent leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;

• environmentally responsible corporation policies;

• procedures for seeking employee input; and

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

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

Tips and Ideas

There are numerous ways to include wellness in a small company. You don’t necessarily need a wellness professional or a fancy 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 workplace can consider.

Communications and Promotion

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

• Use promotions that are already designed like Healthy Workplace Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

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

• Get pedometers for employees and track their steps.

• Rent a nearby school or community health and fitness center and offer exercise classes.

• Hire a local fitness instructor to give classes or lead stretch breaks. Costs may be shared with staff.

• Install secure bike parking.

• Serve healthful alternatives at corporation meetings and lunches.

Policy and Organizational Programs

• Hire an ergonomics specialist to assess workstations.

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

• Provide a wellness subsidy for a selection of health and leadership activities and courses.

• Give financial incentives to be healthful.

• Offer wellness incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.

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

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

• Spread the workload. Be certain to set up a wellness committee.

Small businesses might not have a lot of time, money, or HR available for a health promotion program. But they often have a immense advantage over big companies-a positive worksite culture.

That is a excellent foundation for a wellness program. When personnel are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more productive, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small companies can create successful wellness programs.

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