Employee Health Promotion Programs
- Health promotion programs encourage employees to use corporate wellness benefits, such as gym facilities.fitness equipment image by Sunshine Photos from Fotolia.com
Employee wellness programs, offered at no cost to employees, can "reduce employee health care costs, disability, and turnover; aid in recruiting new workers; enhance the company image; and improve employee productivity," according to an American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine article. These wellness programs encourage employees to eat nutritious foods and to exercise. Health promotion programs should encourage employees to use their corporate fitness programs, either on-site or off-site, in support of a healthier lifestyle. - Voluntary lunch-and-learn presentations, which can be held several times a year, can help encourage employees to participate in fitness programs and adopt healthier habits. Companies can bring in presenters from local health organizations such as a doctor's office, mental health facility, hospital, or a local health club. The company's Employee Assistance Program also can be another resource.
- Cancer screenings and health risk assessments help employees think about reducing their risk factors for health problems, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine article says. A health risk assessment is a questionnaire or exam that asks employees about their health (such as blood pressure, cholesterol), habits (such as smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, diet, exercise), personal medical history and family medical history. A health risk assessment should not be confused with a required health exam required by some employers for pre-employment or life insurance eligibility. Instead the assessment helps the employee to understand risk factors for health problems. Employees can take an assessment online, on paper or with the assistance of a coach or medical provider. Employers can offer the risk assessment confidentially on the company website. Employees who participate may be more likely to take part in employee wellness programs, such as cafeteria plans, fitness centers or a smoking cessation program.
- The smoking cessation program not only helps employees kick the habit, but also reduces exposure to secondhand smoke at work. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, employers should expect a success rate in the range of 20 percent to 40 percent. Employers can sponsor employees to quit smoking and reduce the costs of tobacco use in the workplace, including fires, lost time, disability, health care costs, insurance and liability. Smoking cessation programs can be conducted at work or through employer health insurance plans. Working with a doctor, employees can use various strategies to quit, such as medicine, nicotine patches and nicotine gum.
