Wellness Policies and Activities

Designing wellness interventions is one of the first things many think of when working on the planning step of creating a worksite wellness program. Wellness interventions consist of policies and activities. There are several areas for intervention and the needs assessment will determine where to begin. Below you will find some information on common areas of intervention and some examples of policies and activities to address them.

Tobacco Use

Employee tobacco use has a significant impact on employers. It can lead to an increase in health and life insurance premiums and claims, greater absenteeism, and reduced worker productivity.

Policies

  • Develop policies prohibiting tobacco use at the workplace, including both indoor and outdoor areas
  • Employers can work with their health plan to ensure coverage for all recommended tobacco use cessation services. Additional information on treating tobacco dependence can be found at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/default.htm

Activities

  • Offer smoking cessation classes to employees and their spouses
  • Offer a health risk appraisal to employees and provide information on tobacco use cessation and local resources for assistance

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The areas of mental health and substance abuse are an important aspect of health. Like physical illness, mental illness can significantly impact health status. It also has a major impact on employers. Substance abuse can lead to job performance problems including absenteeism, decreased productivity, arriving late or leaving early, or conflicts with coworkers. There can also be problems with safety if the employee is under the influence at work.

Policies

  • Provide employees an Employee Assistance Program, so they can access counseling and referrals to treat mental illness and/or substance abuse
  • Establish worksite drug and alcohol policies

Activities

  • Participate in local and national initiatives to prevent substance abuse
  • Provide drug and alcohol counseling to supervisors and employees counteract enabling behaviors

Physical Activity and Nutrition

Physical activity and nutrition are two important aspects of health included in worksite wellness programs. Moderate improvements in amount of physical activity and quality of nutrition can have significant impacts on health. Increased physical activity reduces the risk of dying from heart disease, developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. It also reduces feelings of depression and anxiety, helps control weight, increases strength, and improves worker productivity.

Policies

  • Contract with health plans that offer free or reduced cost memberships to health clubs or work with a local health club to obtain a corporate membership so employees may receive a reduced cost membership
  • Allow flexible works schedules to encourage employees to exercise or participate in weight management classes
  • Provide clean and safe stairwells and promote their use

Activities

  • Sponsor company fitness challenges
  • Support lunchtime walking clubs or company sports teams
  • Provide periodic incentives to promote physical activity
  • Offer onsite weight management classes
  • Subsidize healthy foods in the cafeteria or vending machines to make them more appealing to employees

(Healthy Workforce 2010, 2001)

Please note- Local and Federal laws pertaining to patient privacy and health information should be consulted while designing wellness program policies, activities, health screenings, health risk appraisals, or any other health related activity. Maintaining the privacy of employees and their health information is a top priority for worksite wellness programs in terms of ethics and local and federal laws. These laws are updated on a regular basis, so it is important to revisit them regularly.