EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM

Employers nationwide are beginning to appreciate and recognize the value an Employee Wellness Program can bring to their organization and the impact it can have on the productivity of the workforce.  Additionally, Wellness Programs have proven to be an effective tool in helping to control the increasing cost of the employee medical insurance plan for the long term. 

A Worksite Wellness Program should be designed to encourage employees to take responsibility for the improvement of their health. Employers, with a Culture of Good Health, are able to have a profound influence over the health status of their employees.  A Culture of Good Health can be achieved through various means; however, it starts with health education and management commitment to helping employees achieve a desired outcome and a healthier workforce.  

This Wellness Program is design to encourage healthy lifestyles, through weight management, good nutritional awareness and increased physical activity.   According to the most recent information available from the CDC, approximately 60% of Floridians are obese and overweight.  Adults with Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight and BMI over 30 is obese.

Being obese or overweight increases the risk, or is a contributing factor, of many diseases and health conditions, including Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, Respiratory Problems and some forms of cancer.  All which can be significantly impacted by diet, health education and regular physical fitness.  These diseases can directly and significantly impact health care cost and health care insurance premiums.

The main challenge of most wellness program is employee participation, especially for those employees with the risk factors that would benefit most.  Management commitment and participation incentives have proven to be successful in encouraging this segment of employees to participate.  Keeping healthy employees healthy is important as well, so those employees without risk factors are also encouraged to participate.

MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM:

On-Site Monthly Employee Seminars with topics such as:

·       Healthy Diets: Based on CDC’s 5-A-Day Program

·       Cancer & Other Disease Prevention Through Nutrition

·       Your Children’s Health and Obesity Risks

·       Nutrition for Your Healthy Heart

·       Reading Food Labels to Improve Your Health

·       Calories In/Calories Out – How Many to Consume

·       Hurricane Preparedness & Food Safety

One-on-One Employee Sessions 

Individual coaching sessions to help employees develop and sustain personal wellness goals for themselves and their families.  Individual coaching has proven to be essential in helping employees with behavioral or motivational issues.  These sessions are conducted by a licensed dietitian. 

On-Site Group Fitness Instructions 

Fitness professionals to assist employees in developing fitness routines that include cardiovascular training and body toning.  This program is designed for the individual who does not have the time or commitment to join fitness center or other structured programs.  The fitness professional will train employees on exercises that can done in the comfort of their home, their office or in a park, individually or with a partner. 

Other components for consideration:

Health Screenings, Health Risk Assessments, Guided Meditation, Yoga, Pilates, Training for Corporate Race, Smoking Cessation, Flu Immunization