Can your small business afford a wellness program?
A recent article about wellness in small businesses claims that small firms may not see the same ROI that larger organizations reap from wellness. But they can provide VOI — Value on Investment. Some of those intangible values may include:
- Talent recruitment and retention: Employees want to work for a firm that offers work-life perks like flex-time and benefits that improve their health, like discounted gym memberships
- Increased employee well-being: Workplace wellness programs can lead to less stress and help employees feel they are in control of their own health
- Lower rates of absenteeism
- A better sense of job satisfaction stemming from the sense that your company cares about its people
But what’s the best way for small businesses to promote wellness? The article suggests starting small and working up to a more elaborate program, starting with a health risk assessment, adding an online portal, and then integrating telephonic health coaching for employees who want to quit smoking or lose weight.
Sound advice? Sure. But there are so many strategic benefits to being a small business when it comes to wellness; shouldn’t your program take advantage of them?
Here are some challenges you may not have to face as a small business.
- Communication. It’s much easier to let 20 or even 100 employees know about a new wellness initiative than it is to inform 2,000 people.
- Remote workforce. Some very small businesses may be 100% work-from-home or telecommute, but if your small business is all in one office, you have more flexibility to offer in-person programming.
- Tailored programming and incentives. It’s easier to give 10 people what they want than 10,000.
- Culture change. Whether it’s abolishing the donut club or giving employees more flexibility, it can be a huge barrier at a large organization. Not as tough on a smaller scale.
With these perks in mind, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Instead of an HRA or screening, try a survey. Instead of offering a generic education campaign about eating more vegetables or a standardized health screening, get creative and poll your people about what they want. They might be itching for discounts at a local gym or more information about managing stress; you’ll never know unless you ask!
- Make it in-person, hands-on, and fun. Online wellness libraries are fine, but you know what’s better? Walking programs, in-office yoga, a company recreation league, healthy cooking classes, grocery store tours with an RD, mindfulness meditation workshops, support groups for weight loss, or pretty much anything else that makes health engaging, social and fun.
- Change your culture. Take it one step at a time. Challenge your employees to bring healthy snacks to share instead of cakes and cookies. Make sure you have bike racks, bus routes and walking maps available. Consider implementing a flex-time policy. Turn off the office internet for 15 minutes and encourage people to get up and move.
Of course, your small business may still see a hard ROI for wellness, too, even if it’s not as drastic as those seen at larger firms. Every doctor visit an employee avoids saves $206; an avoided visit to the E.R. saves about $788 (based on the 2008 average cost of doctor and E.R. visits by the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey). Those numbers may be a drop in the bucket at a larger organization; at some small companies, that kind of savings can make a huge impact on the bottom line. And even if your company is fully insured, having a wellness or self-care program in place can be used as leverage when negotiating with your carrier.
And remember, your small business has a unique opportunity to make wellness work. Maybe the question shouldn’t be can we afford it, but something more positive. What do we have to lose? What do we stand to gain? Why not?
How do you promote wellness at your small business? Let us know; we’d love to profile your program. Email media@healthylife.com.