Rising healthcare benefit costs are a significant concern to employers. Poor health habits and unnecessary medical care costs consume portions of our company resources as well as the employee paycheck. This epidemic is placing a huge burden on our healthcare system, economy, and rippling down to our own companies.

What can employers do to curb these costs? An investment in employees’ health may lower healthcare costs or slow the increasing rate. There are many varieties of worksite wellness programs available and creating a work environment that supports and encourages good health is a great start! Essentially, worksite wellness programs encourage employees and their families by promoting healthy lifestyles. Programs focus on changing your ways to prevent the onset of illness or worsening of a diseases and adopting a way of life that is healthier.

While some corporations have started very expansive worksite wellness programs, others have attained savings or increased productivity with a few relatively easy initiatives that promote healthy behaviors. Ideas range from onsite gyms to simple worksite wellness newsletters to health education classes to subsidizing use of fitness facilities. Getting started is what matters the most.

A program shouldn’t only encourage employees with physical health risk factors to make changes; programs can be designed to help individuals seek help for mental health programs that will ultimately improve their full quality of life.

My company, C&A Industries, realizes the importance of employee health and wellbeing. C&A uses various methods to promote healthy lifestyles that are not only cost effective, but fun and well attended. Some healthy programs include:

• Weight Watchers at Work
• Stall Street Journal (posted in bathroom stalls-featuring various articles pertaining to diet, exercise, food)
• Weigh to Goal Contest (employees weigh in weekly and compete for the highest weight loss)
• Lunch and Learn sessions (topics include dieticians and fitness experts)
• Cholesterol screening, blood drives, flu shots, and health fairs
• Great American Smoke Out information event
• Breast Cancer awareness (having employees purchase ribbons)
• Blacking out the vending machines/substitute a healthy snack
• Sponsorship of the Corporate Cup and Corporate Cycling Challenge
• C&A also has a site dedicated on its Intranet called AurHealth promoting wellness and health. There are great recipes and tips for everyone to read
• AND we currently hold the “Gold” level Well Workplace Award

What does this all mean to an employer? Statistics show that employees spend 36 percent of their total waking hours at work. Therefore, employees spend more time in the work setting than any other setting in an average day. Studies have shown that worksite wellness programs are more likely to:

• Attract better employees and enhance your organization’s image
• Reduce absenteeism and time lost
• Improve on the job performance/decision making skills
• Increase employee morale which affects productivity and retention
• Decrease healthcare costs

To initiate a wellness program at your company, there are a number of Web sites that provide wellness information. One of those sites is through a company named WELCOA (The Wellness Councils of America). They offer a step-by-step process for initiating a wellness program using its Seven Benchmarks of Success. Visit www.welcoa.org for more information.

So what are you waiting for? Start a worksite wellness program today!

Celebrity Staff Account Manager Karla Keegan-Smith

About the Author Karla Keegan-Smith, Celebrity Staff Account Manager
Karla began working for Celebrity Staff in 2009 as a recruiter; 2011 marks her eleventh year in the staffing and recruiting industry. She has worked in several large cities throughout her career and secured business in a wide variety of industries ranging from call centers, banking, manufacturing, mortgage, utilities, real estate, medical, and many more! Karla has helped countless people find rewarding careers and is responsible for cultivating new business.

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Karla graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development with a minor in music. She is a member of Human Resources Association of the Midlands (HRAM) and is on the HRAM media relations committee. She is also a member of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Outside of work, Karla stays busy with her two children, traveling, and spending time with good friends. She is passionate about helping people and her community.