07/ 27/ 2007
by Tamara E. Holmes
Healthy employees are not only good for company morale, they are also good for the bottom line. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that employers' losses in productivity when employees are sick are four times greater than the costs of medical treatment. And it's not just illnesses like cancer and heart disease that can sideline your small business' workforce: Health conditions such as depression, fatigue and sleeping disorders lead to lost productivity and company dollars as well.
So does that mean your small business is a slave to your employees' health? By taking some proactive wellness initiatives, you can do your part to keep illness at bay.
Create a healthy community. Many people are more likely to work out when they do so with others who hold them accountable. Take advantage of the buddy system by offering your employees a discounted rate at a local fitness center, and chances are they'll work out with other coworkers who share similar goals. The closer the fitness center is to the workplace, the better, since some employees may choose to exercise during their lunch hours or in the early morning before work. You don't necessarily have to fork over the compensation for the discount. Many fitness centers would gladly offer a discounted rate to your employees in exchange for your company's endorsement of the center through the program.
Offer financial incentives for wellness. Giving your employees access to wellness facilities and programs means nothing if they don't use them. Motivate employees to work out by creating contests that reward those who achieve the highest wellness goals. For example, a weight-loss contest could give a small bonus to employees who reach their ideal body weight, or you could reward employees for working out a certain number of times in a given period. Compensation need not only be in the form of cash. A day off counts as financial compensation as well.
Acknowledge national wellness efforts. The Great American Smokeout takes place every November, and October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. By planning work-related events that coincide with national efforts such as these, your company can not only foster healthy habits, but also take advantage of the press coverage being given to these topics outside of work as well. Don't just give lip-service to these events; rather recognize and reward employees for coming up with creative ideas to mark these occasions, such as a company-wide plan to quit smoking in November or an annual fund-raising drive for cancer research.
Pay employees with prizes. Money isn't the only thing you can use to reward employees. Fun prizes can go a long way toward motivating employee behavior as well. Everyone likes to receive presents, so small gifts such as fruit baskets, Starbucks gift certificates and pedometers can not only give employees a mood lift, but they also promote healthy living as well.
Appeal to the ego. Not all rewards are tangible. Public praise is often a powerful motivator. When employees make healthy choices, let everyone know. Just as employees are recognized for money-saving ideas or attracting the most new customers, they can be lauded for losing 10 pounds or running a marathon as well. Flattery can also be contagious. A "Healthy Employee of the Month" designation, for example, can get employees' competitive juices flowing and motivate them to make healthier choices.
While you can't prevent your employees from ever getting sick, you can motivate them to make healthier choices. By rewarding employees for engaging in healthy behavior, you can do your part to promote wellness in the workplace.
