A 1998 study conducted by Hewitt Associates found that 75 percent of U.S. employers offer some type of workplace health program. Still, business owners wonder whether this is substantial evidence that these programs get results. And you don t have to go into debt for a Nike-sized employee gym and track in order to achieve results. Some companies find that paying for employee memberships to a local gym, accommodating employees noon workout schedules, and offering workout incentives sufficiently motivates employees to improve their lifestyles.
Stress can also deter an employee from coming to work.
Medford, Oregon-based Bear Creek Corporation created an employee school of wellness, offering holistic class topics such as personal financial management, college funding, tai chi and Weight Watchers. Research what other companies in your industry have done. Instead of designing your own employee-needs survey, you may purchase questionnaires designed by Dr. Donald Hall to zero in on your company s specific health needs. For the past 20 years, Hall has provided questionnaires, results tallying, wellness computer software, and Health Management System workshops to such well-known companies as Nike, Tektronix, Hewlett Packard and Intel.