Corporate wellness suggestions, PLEASE!

[letswork]

I have just been enlisted by the bigwigs of my company to start a Wellness Program for our employees. I'm THRILLED by the prospect and honored that they would ask me to head the project. We have our first meeting this afternoon and while I've got lots of ideas, I've never done anything like this before and I'm not sure what will work best.

I thought I'd be smart and check in with my educated crowd for some input. What would YOU like to see at YOUR workplace to help get you healthy??????? I want to do something motivational, fun and I want measurable results.

Please help! Please.

 

[jpasanski]

At my company in the past we have had weigh-ins, and the people who maintain or lose over a certain period of time are eligible for a drawing for prizes (health and beauty products, hotel gift certificates, massage, etc.).

Also, my company talked with our local hospital. Our hospital has a wellness program that includes a modest gym. Employees of my company get a discount on a membership at the gym. You could try talking with a gym in your area and see what they will offer.

You could also try a contest for pounds lost/maintained for groups. The groups could walk during lunch, work out together at some other time, or just keep each other motivated.

It has been an issue about maintaining weight versus weight lost, since not everyone needs to lose pounds, so you may want to keep that in mind!

You could also have speakers to motivate people (topics: smoking, weight loss, disease prevention, etc.)

Good luck! Sounds like a fun task!

Jenn

 

[materialsgirl]

Oh I am so jealous! I would love to be in charge of our corporate wellness program! You go girl!

My company, which is a HUGE and very well-known global company, has an outstanding wellness program. So I have lots of ideas for you. Actually, if you want to e-mail me, we can talk more about what my company does via e-mail: [email protected]

Right now, we are in the midst of an 8-week walking program, where all participants received a free pedometer and a daily log-sheet. We are competing against another business unit to see who can log the most miles over 8-weeks. It's fun. I get a little competetive with my own coworkers too. Heeh hee!

We have a registered dietician (who is associated with the local hospital) who heads up our program, and she provides free nutrition and exercise counseling. She also does monthly blood pressure checks. And semi-monthly cholesterol, weight, waist-to-hip ration, and BMI checks. It's all free to employees.

It's a fabulous program - email me if you want more details.

 

[Gayle]

Good for you, letswork!

Last year our wellness/employee activity program started a walking program and I *think* they gave out pedometers to those who participated. They also started a Weight Watchers group (meets weekly) on campus, which has been very popular.

Good luck!

 

[ducky]

Wow, congrats on getting to head up the wellness program! Sounds like Emily will have some good ideas.

I was one of a committee (of 2 ) that ran our wellness program in my former office. We weren't a huge office and had limited funding but here are some things we implimented:

Annual blood panel for things like cholesteral, triglicerides, etc.

Educational seminars by local health professionals.

Wellness potlucks, where all the food was low calorie and healthy. Each dish had a recipe with the nutrient breakdown posted by it.

Up to 1 hour matching time for exercise. This means that for an hour of exercise during the work week the company pays for 1/2 hour of it.

Held an aerobics or circut class during lunch hour.

Installed showers in the office building.

Paid memberships to local gym.

Had several *competitions* walking, weight loss etc.

These are the things that come to mind with our program. I 'll probably think of more later but at least it's a start.

 

[dss62467]

At our agency, we're doing wellness competitions. I believe what is being planned to to have teams. Each team is going to track what they eat and how much exercise they get. At the end of the competition, the team who does the best wins prizes. I don't know all the details yet (obviously).

I'd like to see yoga and tai-chi classes. Nothing as far as "gung-ho" exercising at work because you get too funky.

 

[kathryn]

I'm currently participating in a wellness challenge at my university. Teams are set up (6-8 people), and member keep track of fruit and vegetable consumption(5 points per serving), water consumption (5 points per 8 oz glass), activity level (1 pt per minute of moderate to intense activity, including yard work, stretching, walking, etc.), and bonus points (50 points per activity, with 50 points maximum per week. I think this part of it is not well thought-out. I would give a maximum of 50 points per week, and allow 10 points per activity, giving a weekly list of challenges that can be done for bonus points: do 2 sets of 10 push-ups, replace all your fluids for the day with water, bring your own healthy lunch to work).

It would also be nice to have invited speakers, healthy food demos, etc.