Employee Wellness : Employee Wellness Programs: What Can Employers Do to Encourage Healthy Eating and Active Living for Employees?

In today’s organization atmosphere, the health of workers is frequently related to the health of the organization. Increased job satisfaction, improved morale, reduced illness and injuries, and increased productivity are just some of the benefits of having healthy workers. Promoting health in your workplace does not have to be be complicated, expensive or time-consuming. Any organization, large or little, can reward healthy eating and active living in the workplace. Here are some ideas:

Healthier Eating

• For breakfast gatherings, rather than serving donuts, big muffins, cookies, tea and coffee with cream and sugar, offer healthier alternatives such as bagels, small muffins, fresh fruit, water, 100 percent fruit juice and milk with coffee and tea.
• For lunch meetings, avoid serving chips, fried foods, rich pastas, and salads loaded with dressing. Instead, offer sandwiches, bagels, whole grain low fat crackers and cheese, 100  percent fruit juice, water, salads with dressing on the side, vegetable and fruit trays.
• Fully reimburse (or partially reimburse) staff members for items purchased to improve their health (e.g. healthy eating cookbooks, consultation with a Registered Dietitian).
• Arrange for the cafeteria or food vendors to offer healthy food choices.
• Arrange to have healthy choices like bottled water, 100 percent fruit juice, fruit bars, and raisins available in vending machines.
• Offer a means for individuals to share healthy recipes with each other (for example, posting recipes on the Intranet, on posters or by e-mail).

Active Living

• Develop programs and group activities to promote employees to become active, such as walking programs, contests and challenge activities, stretch breaks, group sports or participation in local or provincial activities.
• Provide onsite health professionals (e.g. personal trainers, fitness instructors) or incorporate this service in Employee Assistance Program(EAP)s to help staff members work towards physical exercise objectives and goals.
• Offer a supportive environment in the workplace that makes healthy choices easy: bike racks, shower facilities, clean, safe and accessible stairways, walking or running routes in the vicinity of the workplace, and fitness center facilities.
• Provide|Offer|Give} flex time so that staff members have more opportunities to take part in physical activity programs as part of their working day.
• Reimburse gym membership fees, fitness class registrations, and fitness equipment purchases.
• Give corporate fitness center memberships to reduce expenditures of individual memberships.

Keeping It Fresh!

Find a champion to:

• Create lunch ‘n learn sessions to support information and motivation for healthy eating and active living.
• Invite demonstrators to support cooking lessons or tips for making healthy foods.
• Display a list of local restaurants that offer healthy food choices on their menus.
• Distribute information to educate employees on portion sizes.
• Include physical activity and nutrition information in newsletters, pay check inserts, bulletin boards or e-mails.
• Create activities that promote healthy eating and physical exercise. By way of example, begin a year-round lunch-time walking club, and special activities