{"id":6073,"date":"2018-10-15T10:42:07","date_gmt":"2018-10-15T17:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/?p=6073"},"modified":"2024-04-19T15:25:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T22:25:39","slug":"small-business-wellness-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/small-business-wellness-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Employee Health Is Key to Small Business Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sniffles, coughs, and sneezes increasingly punctuating the steady thrum of the workday. Tissue boxes running on empty as fast as you can replenish them. You know it when you see and hear it, dreading the day when you will finally feel it. Cold season is officially here, and workplace wellness has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/theyec\/2013\/09\/12\/five-reasons-corporate-wellness-is-more-important-than-ever\/#714494b67e66\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">never been more necessary<\/a>\u00a0than it is today. According to the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahrq.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/wysiwyg\/professionals\/prevention-chronic-care\/decision\/mcc\/mccchartbook.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">86 percent<\/a> of healthcare costs is spent on treating chronic diseases. However, resistance is not futile. These are also entirely preventable diseases.<\/p>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/ecpe\/the-business-benefits-of-a-healthy-workforce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">healthy employees being the best employees<\/a> to optimal company performance as a whole, it\u2019s not hard to see why a wellness <a href=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/en\/library\/10731\/safety\/course\/fitness-and-wellness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">program<\/a> can be a big benefit for your company.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6077 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Cup of tea, tissues, and glasses on table, signifying sickness and health care.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash-600x455.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash-768x582.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kelly-sikkema-516850-unsplash-1024x777.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Removing Barriers to Small Business Wellness<\/h2>\n<p>Integrating corporate health and wellness programs doesn\u2019t have to be a taxing endeavor for small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that\u00a0small businesses have provided\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalfunding.com\/blog\/how-small-businesses-help-economy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">55 percent of all jobs and 66 percent<\/a> of all net new jobs for more than four decades. While it\u2019s clear that small businesses can have a big impact on the health and well-being of workers, many believe they cannot afford to offer preventative\u00a0programs or struggle with the administration of corporate programs.<\/p>\n<p>A shift in thinking is necessary when it comes to the benefits of corporate\u00a0health programs. Companies want to know the true return on investment (ROI) derived from wellness. That\u2019s a hard number to nail down, even in companies with developed programs. Instead, think<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/10\/wellness-roi-employee-wellbeing-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0value\u00a0on investment (VOI)<\/a>.\u00a0 Wellness programs attract employees. They are also an effective way for employers to show that they value the employee, not just their contribution to the company.<\/p>\n<h2>Creating a Wellness Strategy<\/h2>\n<p>Winning at wellness in a small business setting requires a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/id\/45261950\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cafeteria approach<\/a>. A customizable program that can build in scale and scope over time is key. This type of flexibility lowers the price of entry without diminishing the benefits of a corporate wellness program.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some strategic steps to build effective corporate health and wellness programs:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Align with Company Values<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The authenticity of a wellness program can be clearly seen when it\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/julian-hayes-ii\/how-to-design-an-employee-wellness-program-on-a-small-business-budget.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marries with company values<\/a>. A wellness program will thrive when it is an extension of company beliefs. This is best seen when company leaders take charge of the wellness program and act as examples of what your company believes in.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create\u00a0Buy In<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi3mfi-xe3UAhXnh1QKHUiCBz8QFggoMAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nsba.biz%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F09%2Fwellness-survey-v3.pdf&amp;usg=AFQjCNEHJxbUy26zCC8RcFN0dk4XvntogQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2014 survey<\/a>,\u00a0conducted by the National Small Business Association (NSBA) and Humana, revealed small businesses wanting to launch a wellness program face noteworthy obstacles. Namely, 46 percent deal with employee apathy and 21 percent don\u2019t know how to execute their programs. Hence, a top-down approach starting with executives is crucial. Employees will take notice of their presence and follow suit. Then, establish a wellness committee comprised of volunteers. They will serve as ambassadors, help rally\u00a0support\u00a0and function as administrators.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get the Most Bang for Your Buck<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Ensure the program focuses on disease and lifestyle management. Combining these two strategies addresses imminent health concerns and\u00a0long-term\u00a0health hazards. A 2014 study,completed by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjD97zO3-HUAhWmv1QKHbAECgkQFggoMAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rand.org%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Frand%2Fpubs%2Fresearch_briefs%2FRB9700%2FRB9744%2FRAND_RB9744.pdf&amp;usg=AFQjCNFq8-J9e3NQ_i82zLvxMa5JEbE48g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rand Corporation<\/a>,\u00a0evaluated the ROI for\u00a0these programs. The findings revealed that this type of program cut the employer\u2019s health care costs and boosted participation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift the Culture<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Getting employees to re-think their choices isn\u2019t easy but\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/amanda-schneider\/workplace-wellness-7-work_b_5765678.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">subtle shifts in the work environment<\/a>\u00a0can produce changes. Taking meetings from the board room to active settings, like discussing business while walking to a nearby park, often represent a welcomed change for workers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Also, don\u2019t underestimate the ability of the office space to change behavior. Having an open environment and the use of natural lighting can create a more connected workforce and make employees more accessible.<\/p>\n<p>This also has the added bonus of encouraging more movement from your employees.<\/p>\n<h2>Employee Wellness for Your Company<\/h2>\n<p>Even though it takes\u00a0time\u00a0to see significant cost reduction, wellness is becoming a staple for companies and an expectation for job seekers. Staying abreast of healthcare laws and leveraging healthcare providers can help you develop the most successful corporate\u00a0health programs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/course.html#!\/SAF1021B\/Fitness-and-Wellness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fitness<\/a> and wellness\u00a0should be considered as integral an aspect of your company as any other. For more information\u00a0in\u00a0creating a better environment for your employees, be sure to check out the employee training courses found at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/course.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KnowledgeCity<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sniffles, coughs, and sneezes increasingly punctuating the steady thrum of the workday. Tissue boxes running on empty as fast as you can replenish them. You know&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[4001],"tags":[617,619,627,629,613,615,611,607,625,633,635,605,411,609,631,621,623],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Employee Health Is Key to Small Business Wellness - KnowledgeCity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn why employee health is crucial for small business success and wellness.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/small-business-wellness-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Employee Health Is Key to Small Business Wellness - 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