When looking to reduce workers’ compensation insurance costs, many employers look into to the addition of a wellness program for their workplace. Undoubtedly, wellness programs can offer tangible results when it comes to workplace injuries, absences and overall satisfaction with the work environment from employees. Below, we’ll outline several key tips for starting a unique wellness program of your own, but first, let’s define what a standard wellness program is.

What Is a Wellness Program?

Every wellness program will look different. However, the common denominator is an emphasis on cultivating safety, health, and wellness in the workplace.

The goal is to minimize risk factors, reduce risky behaviors and promote healthy performance overall. Some employers offer incentives. Other times, the focus is simply on cultivating a healthy environment through a “bottom up” approach (where employees lead the conversation).

Tips for Implementing a Wellness Program

1. Define your biggest challenges.

Start by identifying which challenges and risk factors cause the majority of health and wellness-based problems in your workplace. You should examine these risks in relation to employee satisfaction, overall health and wellness, and the likelihood of illness or injury.

2. Get feedback from employees.

When it comes to improving the wellness, safety, and overall health of your workplace environment, your biggest resource is your team. Hand out a questionnaire or hold a formal meeting to investigate what your employees feel are the biggest health and wellness challenges they face. Take this information into consideration as you develop your wellness program.

3. Consider creating incentives for participation.

If getting your employees on-board with your wellness program proves a challenge, it may be time to offer incentives. This can be as simple as offering prizes for achieving daily walking goals, calculated individually on the honor system. Or, you can create more complex programs that assign teams, disperse challenges, and foster formal goal-setting and achievement. Incentive

4. Provide offerings to motivate action.

Certain actions will need to be taken on your part to encourage your employees and ensure that your research and program development is not for nothing. Free-of-charge, consider offering things like pedometers, healthy snacks, water bottles, etc. in order to motivate positive change.

Ready to start a wellness program within your organization? Remember that even small changes can have big results, so don’t be hesitant to start slowly. Your employees will appreciate it, and you’ll undoubtedly see results in your healthcare and workers compensation insurance costs.

Also Read: How to Assess Your Risks for Business Insurance