Wellness Program Ideas   (print)
Want some wellness program and policy ideas to get you started? Or maybe you want to jump start or improve upon your current program? The list below provides ‘best practices’ that can help meet any wellness program budget! Ideas are divided into topic areas with dollar signs to provide a ballpark estimate of how (in)expensive each idea can be to implement – the more dollar signs ($) you see, the more expensive the program or policy.

General Wellness Ideas

Create a management/employee Wellness Committee		Policy
Identify employees who are mentors or champions for healthy activities and ask them to present or to list as a contact for other employees		Program
Conduct an Employee Needs & Interest Survey		Policy
Publish and/or post healthy tips in newsletters, paycheck stuffers, bulletin boards, etc.		Program
Promote messages from national health observances during the month		Program
Post a Wellness Bulletin Board & update it monthly		Program
Display pamphlets on a variety of wellness topics for employees to take		Program
Sponsor company fitness and healthy eating challenges		Program
Sponsor a benefits fair		Program
Select health plans that cover costs for weight management and smoking cessation		Policy
Waive co-pay or reimburse for preventive healthcare visits		Policy
Plan monthly educational sessions on the national health observance topic		Progrm
Plan and promote periodic or regular educational sessions.		Program
Establish a wellness resource center or library with videos, books, magazines, DVD’s on a variety of topics of interest to employees		Program
Sponsor company health fairs or other on-site events		Program

Nutrition

Stock vending machines with healthier options		Policy
Include nutrition articles in company newsletters		Program
Schedule a healthy food tasting contest Free		Program
Coordinate a weekly or monthly healthy lunch club		Program
Provide information to employees about the nutritional content of food served in the cafeteria		Policy
Have pamphlets available on a variety of healthy eating topics		Program
Subsidize healthy foods in the cafeteria or vending machines (10¢ apples may be more appealing than $1.00 candy bars)		Policy
Provide healthy meal choices in cafeterias and at company events		Policy
Offer free, healthy snacks for employees (fruit, nuts, popcorn)		Policy
Start a fresh fruit “snack basket” in the breakroom or cafeteria		Policy
Sponsor an employee healthy food cookbook. Either sell the cookbook and use profits for programs, or purchase a cookbook for all employees		Program
Schedule educational sessions at lunch-time on a variety of nutrition topics of interest		Program

Weight Loss

Locate registered dieticians near your worksite as a resource for employees who want information on healthy eating, meal planning or weight control		Program
Consider flexible work schedules so that employees can participate in weight-loss programs		Policy
Form a support group to help employees who are trying to lose weight		Program
Offer onsite fitness and weight-management programs through your local hospital, Weight Watchers, TOPS or local, registered dietician		Program
Schedule an educational session on diet myths and healthy eating		Program
Subsidize registration costs for weight-management programs		Policy
Offer individual counseling for employees trying to lose weight		Program

Physical Activity

Hold walking meetings		Policy
Promote walking during breaks and other off-time periods		Program
Allow flexible work schedules to encourage exercise		Policy
Encourage employees to walk more by parking farther away from the entrance		Policy
Install a basketball hoop outside		Program
Provide facilities for employees to secure bikes		Policy
Support lunchtime walking/running clubs or company sports team		Policy
Make the stairwells more appealing (carpet, fresh paint, artwork, posters)		Policy
Encourage stairwell use and incentives		Program
Promote & support community walks or fitness events		Program
Schedule 5 – 10 minute stretch breaks during the day		Policy
Schedule educational sessions on fitness activities		Program
Provide periodic fitness incentive programs to encourage exercise		Program
Create accessible walking paths, trails, and/or bike routes		Policy
Create a fitness space with aerobic equipment, and weights		Policy
Subsidize gym membership for employees who participate a minimal number of days per week (ex., 3 days per week)		Policy
Offer reduced gym membership fees to all employees		Policy
Establish a fitness center with aerobic equipment, weights, aerobic classes, fitness professionals		Policy

smoking cessation

Encourage the use of 1-800-QUIT-NOW, North Carolina’s free Tobacco Use Quitline. Or check www.QuitlineNC.com		Policy
Create a smoke-free workplace		Policy
Create a smoke-free grounds		Policy
Schedule onsite smoking cessation workshops		Program
Provide pamphlets and information on health effects from tobacco use and tobacco cessation		Program
Schedule awareness sessions to motivate employees to try to quit tobacco use		Program
Subsidize the cost of smoking cessation workshops		Policy
Reimburse for tobacco replacement products		Policy

Health Screenings

Offer periodic blood pressure screenings and follow-up		Program
Offer Health Risk Assessments to all employees, including counseling and follow-up		Program
Offer flu shots for employees and family members		Program
Install blood pressure monitoring equipment		Policy
Offer periodic screenings for cholesterol, blood sugar, body composition, etc.		Program
Discount health insurance premiums or reduce co-payments for employees who participate in screenings and who participate in managing their risk factors		Policy

Stress Management / Work Life Balance

Review the employee assistance program to ensure it is meeting the needs of the employees and company		Policy
Allow flexible schedules for family/work life balance		Policy
Review company policies and work schedules to identify organizational stressors		Policy
Provide pamphlets and information on stress management and mental health		Program
Provide pamphlets and information on work life balance, such as financial planning, childcare, parenting, elder care, etc.		Program
Provide information on substance abuse prevention		Program
Provide supervisor and manager training on communication, relationship building, organizational stressors, etc.		Policy
Schedule educational sessions on stress management and work life balance		Program
Offer and promote an employee assistance program		Policy
Schedule workshops on relaxation, stress management, and work life balance topics		Program