Everyone knows that a strong exercise and diet regimen makes us healthier, but did you also know that it makes us happier? Contrary to what many people believe, exercise doesn’t always have to drain you out! In fact, studies have shown that employees who take part in regular fitness programs are less likely to take sick days and are more alert and focused during the workday.With the benefits of healthy living spilling over to the workplace, employers should be taking advantage of this natural focus inducer. Below are some ideas for creating an employee wellness program within your organization:

1. Implement an exercise program. Set up an exercise program for employees who want to get involved. Try allowing for 20 to 30 minute “walking breaks” or coordinate similar recreational activities during the lunch break. Employees will return feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. And on top of all that, it may result in improved employee relations as employees get an opportunity to bond while working out.
2. Encourage healthy eating. If you have a cafeteria or offer food in your breakroom, consider providing healthy options. If you don’t have a cafeteria in the building, offering discounts or coupons for “healthy choice” restaurants in the area is a good alternative. Employees will appreciate the thought and they’re more likely to be alert after eating sensibly, avoiding that after-lunch slump!
3. Target specific health concerns. Start employee circles that focus on certain health issues, such as obesity, smoking, or alcohol use. Have employees form their own groups and work with one another to overcome any health-related battles. Teamwork fosters greater results in health just as it does in business.
4. Make it interesting. Hire a wellness coach or fitness trainer to instruct employees on healthy living. Education is powerful in getting employees to change unhealthy habits. When armed with the tools they need to become healthy, success is often easier to attain.
5. Encourage doctor visits. Encourage employees to visit their physicians for regular check-ups and to assess any medical problems that might need to be addressed. Some companies have even designed their group health plan in such a way that yearly physicals don’t require any co-payments or coinsurance. Others have encouraged employees to set goals with their physician for the coming year.
6. Make it fun! Make health consciousness fun. Have a friendly competition to see which employees can walk the most in a week or who can lose the most weight within a month. Always encourage employees by rewarding them; perhaps a free trip to a spa for the month’s “healthiest” employee.
7. Offer incentives to participate. If you find that not enough employees are getting involved, try offering rewards or incentives. For example, Johnson & Johnson found that only 26% of their employees were participating in their exercise program. They decided to try a $500 discount off medical insurance costs for those employees who took part. The result? The percentage of employees participating exploded – to over 93%!
8. Keep up with the program. Don’t just start the wellness program and leave the momentum up to your employees. Keep up with it; host new competitions and assess the program as it moves along. Some changes or updates might be needed along the way as you determine which portions of the program have been successful and which ones haven’t been. Especially when it comes to nutrition and exercise it’s always a good idea to keep things fresh, so mix it up a bit and employees will be more likely to stick with the program.

The benefits of healthy workers are not only recognized by each individual employee; employers reap the benefits as well. In fact, according to a 2005 survey by The Art of Health Promotion, companies that instituted wellness programs saw a 30% reduction in medical and absenteeism costs in less than four years! By implementing these types of programs, employers can facilitate greater employee productivity and morale, along with a happier and healthier workplace altogether.