Wellness Programmes: How To Build And Sustain Them

Workplace wellness schemes are becoming increasingly popular in companies, but there are unforeseen challenges in creating a successful programme which benefits everyone. Both employers and employees benefits from having a wellness scheme in place, such as better morale in the workplace, lower rate of absences and a higher rate of employee productivity. In particular, for employees, wellness programmes can become an important part of being physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle. There are often cases where a wellness scheme triggers an interest in healthier living, such as yoga sessions bringing a personal sense of satisfaction to an employee or cycling to work improving one’s health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, there is no right way to approach developing a wellness scheme, but there are many common factors in programmes which are currently very successful. The main factors to remember are a commitment from management, involvement from employees, adequate resources and a focus on policies regarding workplace health, wellness and safety. Careful planning is required if you are to set up a successful scheme. Why not invite employees to input their ideas? A suggestion box or staff meetings can be a great forum for these ideas. You may need to develop a business case to convince senior members of staff that a wellness programme would be useful within your company. There are many stats to support the benefits of having a wellness scheme but it’s important that you make it clear why your company should develop one to help both employees and employers.

 

Your messages to management should communicate the benefits of such a programme, including the facts and figures on employee health and job satisfaction, and how this affects productivity. Be sure to collect information to prove that the scheme is beneficial; establish a planning committee to represent the views of different departments; be sure to know the facts on what your company is already offering in the way of health benefits and such. You should put activities into place, such as those which increase awareness and knowledge, develop skills and provide social interaction. These could be activities such as walking clubs, golf tourneys, corporate challenge events and national campaigns which your company can get involved in. Healthy eating should also be part of the plan so develop a policy on food catering for the meetings, so that healthy foods are available – perhaps you can look to develop a healthier menu in the company cafeteria. Your wellness programme should take steps to regularly monitor the progress of employees and evaluate how successful the programme is. You can do this, for example, by tracking the number of participants in a given activity, or the number of employees who support some or all components of a programme. It’s important that you identify all areas of excellence, as well as looking at the factors which affect the participation in your programme. Mistakes will happen but the important thing is that you learn from them and develop a stronger programme for the future. As the scheme develops, continue to evaluate it and make changes as you and the company require them. If you pay close attention to the key elements of a wellness programme within your company, and you ensure that the lines of the communication remain open at all times, you can develop a strong foundation from which to sustain an effective wellness programme which will leave a lasting legacy.

Categories: Advice, company, Corporate, employees, Programme, scheme, Wellness, Wellness Programme, Wellness programmes, wellness scheme

Employers – Do You Know Enough About Corporate Wellness?

Corporate wellness and wellbeing is a hot topic with employers at the moment, with around 67 percent of all employers offering some sort of wellness programme. These programmes are based around the idea that employees can receive breaks on their health insurance if they undertake certain tasks to increase their health, such as giving up smoking, changing their diet, losing weight or increasing their exercise. They also have to have health tests to find out about their current state of health and receive personalised wellness programmes to help them improve.

 

A recent survey showed that around 18 percent of employers are now offering a financial incentive to those who achieve a certain health standard, and around 15 percent offer a lower health premium to those who do not smoke.

 

Savings vary hugely from employer to employer, but the programmes themselves are on the increase, as there is a growing body of evidence showing that when employers use these wellness programmes, the costs of medical expenses and employee absenteeism for illness are greatly reduced. One study even showed that the average employer has seen a reduction in medical costs of $3.27 for every dollar spent on a wellness programme and a reduction of $2.73 in absenteeism for every dollar spent on the wellness programmes.

 

If you are an employer and you are thinking of putting into place a wellness programme, or improving an established one, it is important to carefully evaluate the design of the programme and consider carefully what the goals should be. This reduces the risk of discrimination claims and also makes it more likely that the whole workforce will want to and be able to participate in the wellness programme. Employers should also read up on the law in their area, relating to sickness, health in the workplace and absenteeism.

 

Categories: Corporate, corporate wellness, dollar spent, employers, health, Programme, Programmes, Wellness, Wellness Programme, Wellness programmes

What Everyone Ought to Know About Corporate Wellness

Throughout the country, corporate wellness and wellbeing programmes are becoming more widespread. The buzz is catching on and the news is spreading that these programmes lead to healthier employees, cuts in healthcare costs and an overall happier and healthier working environment. The programmes themselves vary widely from simply offering healthcare information to employees, to fitness education, to subsidised healthy lunches to a company gym. Some employees are even offered financial rewards for reaching certain health standards.

 

If you are an employer who is thinking of implementing or improving a wellness programme in your workplace, then the results really speak for themselves. It is a simple matter of fact that healthy employees work more productively, but it has also been shown that employees who are involved in wellness programmes are more likely to be hard workers because they feel valued by their employers.

 

The financial incentives for running a wellness programme have also been well proved. Healthier workers have lower levels of absenteeism, which tends to cost the company money. They also need less time off for medical appointments, and have lower costs of health care. On top of that, retention rates tend to be higher and employee job satisfaction is increased, reducing the costs associated with a high staff turnover.

 

The health problems that employees are helped with through a wellness programme can vary hugely. For some it is a case of increasing their levels of exercise and physical activity. For many it is a case of losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Smoking cessation is always a big one, and some employers offer a lower level of health insurance premium to those who do not smoke. Some employees have problems with sleep, and this can be helped through some of the channels that wellness programmes open up.

Categories: Corporate, corporate wellness, employees, health, Healthier, Programme, Programmes, Wellness, Wellness Programme, Wellness programmes

In-House and Outsourcing: Why Corporate Wellness Needs Both

While some corporate wellness practises have changed over the years, most things have remarkably stayed the same. For years, employers have been told to outsource their wellness promotion, administration and delivery, but does that approach to looking after employee wellbeing still hold true today? For the answer, we turned to Rob J. Thurston, President of HR Consulting Group and Bart Sheeler, co-founder of ActivHealth International, in order to take a real time look at the current approach to Wellness Programmes.

 

According to Thurston and Sheeler, ‘Most companies have heard of, would like to implement, or may have even attempted to offer a wellness programme. However, most have found they are too busy fighting tough economic times and watching expenses trying to make a profit to divert attention or expenses into the intangible world of wellness. While the concept of wellness may seem to be much more philosophical than the task of producing a product or service for a profit, they really have more in common than not. As companies strive to improve their processes and focus on the bottom line “health” of their business, the same happens to be true for their most valued assets, their employees. The happier and healthier the employee population, the better the productivity and lower the health care costs against trend – all of which add up to help improve the company’s bottom line.’

 

So how do you implement your own wellness programme without taking your eye off the day-to-day responsibilities of your business? ‘Respecting your culture and designing a programme that meets the unique needs of your population are essential in building a wellness programme,’ say Thurston and Sheeler. ‘We recommend surveying your employees to see what interests them and noting what the circumstances are specific to your company. Do you have one location, branch offices, multiple shifts and/or remote sales staff? All these factors will ultimately need consideration when you sit down to design your programme.’ So that’s that, then, no need to outsource your company’s wellness needs? Not according to Thurston and Sheeler.

 

The wellness experts write, ‘We believe that certain items must remain under your control, while other features will be better delivered via outsourced solutions. With this in mind, the question is not whether it makes sense for a company to offer a wellness programme, but more importantly, how to incorporate a programme that will capture the attention of the employees, drive engagement on a personal level and ultimately create a culture of health improvement. Every company is different, so the solutions will not all look the same. The key is to match a company’s available “internal” resources with a complimentary set of outsourced “external” resources.’

 

In terms of what you can do internally, it again comes down to culture. ‘Outside influences can be enlisted,’ note Thurston and Sheeler. ‘But in the end, your employees are internal and will shape your culture from the ground up. There are internal components that must be maintained within the company to be effective. Leadership must be involved, “walking the talk” and communications that are reinforced through internal “programme champions” are a necessity to be successful in the integration of healthy living into a company’s culture.’

 

So what do you outsource for? Thurston and Sheeler explain, ‘Employers use outsourcing to maintain or improve service to employees; reduce workload to existing staff; reduce programme costs; and to free up resources to focus on other key objectives, like building their widgets for a profit…Such firms will offer Health Risk Appraisals, Biometric testing, onsite Fitness and Challenges, onsite coaching, online coaching and a variety of platforms that offer real-time programming via internet access.’

Categories: company, corporate wellness, corporate wellness programme, culture, outsourcing, Programme, real time, sheeler, thurston, Wellness, Wellness Programme

Amazing Workouts That Will Get You Fit Quickly

Working out is something we all need to do, but finding a workout that challenges and stays fun is a tricky task. Here are a few exercise programmes that promise results and challenge your body to the max, for the ultimate workout.

P90X

An extreme 90 day workout, P90X really pushes your body to the max. It can be done at home via a DVD so its great for people who don’t want the hassle of going to the gym every week. It moulds your body into shape by combining yoga, cardio, weight training and abs workouts. The workouts vary from highly intense to easy depending on the type of exercise you want and your fitness level. If you’re really fit, you can opt for the toughest type whereas people who just want a mild workout can choose the latter.

CrossFit

Created by Coach Greg Glassman, this is a communal fitness programme that involves a variety of high intensity movements to achieve overall fitness. This is a global phenomenon, with people all over the world taking part. There is a workout each day for you to take part in, using gymnastics, weight lifting and aerobic exercises to tone your body.

7 minute workout

This became incredibly popular earlier in the year, and as the name suggests you only have to work out for seven minutes with short breaks in between. The idea is that you achieve a total body workout with the use of crunches, pushups, jumping jacks and other such exercises. It can be used as a toning exercise or you can do the circuit again for a really tough workout.

DTP

DTP or Dramatic Transformation Principle is a 12 week programme that consists of three phases, each one designed to keep the body working hard and guessing what’s coming next. Phase one is strength training, phase two works on muscle development and phase three is an incredibly intense workout that really pushes the body to its limits.

3-2-1

This workout uses your body weight to tone the body, and is ideal for new mums or beginners who want to start gently and build up to a more intense workout. The routine is creative as it uses your entire body in a variety of ways to create a really effective calorie-burning workout without you getting bored.

Yogalates

This workout is a fusion of Pilates and yoga, and really focuses on your core muscles which is ideal for toning your body. Beginning in Australia, this workout has become popular around the world and is ideal if you want to increase your flexibility, stamina and concentration. If you suffer with arthritis, osteoporosis and back pain, this is a gentle but effective workout that could be really beneficial. It’s also brilliant as a post natal workout.

Insanity workout

Another extreme workout that suggests you can get amazing results in just 60 days. This is the considered to be the hardest workout programme ever brought to DVD, but the exercises are great for building muscles and stripping the body of fat. If you’re new to exercise, this might not be the best way to begin simply because it is so intense. However, for anyone looking to really improve their fitness in a short space of time.

As with any workout programme, check with your GP before embarking on a new fitness scheme in case it’s not advisable that you do so. If you’re new to working out, take it slow and build up gradually to give your body chance to get used to the exercise.

Categories: body, exercise, fitness, intense workout, Programme, Workout, workout p90x, workout programme, Workouts

Which Fitness Programmes Are Best For Weight Loss?

Losing weight and boosting your fitness are two things that most people aspire to do, but few people actually achieve. Before we start heading into winter, when those winter woollies add a few imaginary pounds to your figure, it might be a perfect time to finally get into shape, and fortunately there are some simple activities that can boost your wellness and wellbeing and help improve your fitness.

 

You may have heard of Zumba – the healthy dance craze that has been sweeping the nation. This is one craze that is not just a fad – those who do Zumba actually see results really quickly. The Zumba plan makes you shed pounds through movement and a range of motion, and it engages all your core muscles and gets your pelvic muscles pumping. The fun aspect of the dance class means that you do more activity than you would otherwise, and you don’t notice just how much exercise you are taking (until the next day when you are likely to ache a bit!)

 

TRX strength training is also a great programme, as it uses strength training to help you shed pounds. Using suspension straps, you go through a range of weight training exercises and motions. You burn a lot of calories with this programme – far more than you would through any kind of traditional weightlifting programme.

 

Circuit training is also great for helping you shed pounds and tone up. This means that you don’t just do cardio or strength training, you incorporate them into one workout (with a little bit of abs work too for good measure). This allows for the best calorie burn and helps you to build lean muscles, and is the best way to get fat off quickly and build a healthy and strong body.

Categories: fitness, pounds, Programme, shed, shed pounds, Strength Training, training, weight, Zumba

Would You Try the Cure Arthritis Naturally Programme?

The Cure Arthritis Naturally Programme claims to permanently cure your arthritis within 21 days. This is certainly a powerful declaration to make, but understandably you might want more information before you invest your hopes for a better wellbeing, not to mention your money, in such an extravagant claim. Therefore, the company has developed a Cure Arthritis Naturally Review in order to help you to decide whether or not investing your money is the right step to take. According to the company, the Review gives you more information and description about the product, as well as features and customer reviews, so that you might see how the Cure Arthritis Naturally Programme could benefit your wellness.

The Review details that there is substantial clinical and experimental evidence (though no specific studies are given) which suggests that ‘the inflammatory aspect of many forms of arthritis and other diseases related to inflammation of the joints can be treated effectively by using certain alternative treatments.’ The Review also notes that several clinical trials (again, none cited in particular) have shown many natural solutions effectively treat arthritis in ways similar to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs, which are also safer. However, the Review does not state whether any of these alleged studies have shown how the Cure Arthritis Naturally Programme stacks up.

According to the company, Cure Arthritis Naturally is a comprehensive self-help programme that doesn’t involve drugs or their unwelcome side effects. The programme has been designed to help millions of patients who suffer from chronic arthritis pain to heal, rather than to just medicate their symptoms. To achieve this, the Cure Arthritis Naturally guide takes a holistic approach, incorporating medicinal herbs, nutritional supplements, exercise, diet, and chiropractic care.

The programme comes in the form of an eBook, which has a 100% money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. As the Review argues, ‘Thoroughly researched and clearly presented, Cure Arthritis Naturally guides readers through the labyrinth of recent medical studies related to the effects and treatment of this disease. In addition, it discusses the exclusion of alternative therapies from most insurance coverage and provides advice on the action consumers can take to address this.’

Would You Try the Cure Arthritis Naturally Programme?

Categories: Arthritis, arthritis naturally, cure, cure arthritis, naturally, naturally programme, Programme, Review, the Cure Arthritis Naturally Programme