Corporate Wellness Participation is Less than Half: Study

Published in the Internation Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, research found that participation in corporate wellness programs range from 10% to 64%, median being 33% and typical was below 50%.

Although participation levels were low, the research did find that several key factors were influential in participation rates: incentives, multi-component strategies, and a focus on multiple behaviors.

Take note, my friend.

"Health Promotions in the Workplace" Review

Yup, another book review!  However, this one leans more towards the textbook category.  I was a bit skeptical of what I was going to receive when I bought a used edition off of Amazon for about $0.75 when it retails for $80+.  But, I thought I would give it a shot and was really pleased as to what I received.

The book outlines all of the design phases of wellness initiatives, the maintenance, management, evaluation, strategies, intervention programs, and perspectives of health promotion in different settings (small business, elderly, global and the future of workplace health promotion).  Overall, it seems to cover just about anything you need to implement an effective program.  Here's my gripe, however:

The latest edition was published in 2001.

I consider research evidence to be "old" when it reaches the 10 year mark.  While much of the information is good in this book, it is outdated.  The previous edition to the current was published 8 years prior, so I'm not sure why they are taking so long to publish a new edition.  If and when they do, I will most likely be finding myself buying it to get the latest information.  Here's why I do like this book:

It is fair about its assessment of health promotion and workplace wellness.  If evidence is clear enough, it will tell you so.  It tells you when there is enough evidence to support an idea and when there is enough to proceed with caution.  It also uses evidence and research to recommend different types of wellness program and activities.  Take the weight management, as an example.  There are many different ways to implement, from financial incentives, lay vs. professional help, weekly interventions vs. intensive, worksite vs. clinic and to top it all off, the cost/effectiveness of each.  Not only that, but the book goes into detail why such an intervention is necessary in the workplace, citing research that shows the prevalence of obesity and it's health risks.  Basically, it goes from the start - convincing upper management that this intervention is necessary - to finish.

This really isn't a book you can read front to back and be done with.  I read the first several chapters, and that was about all I could consume and make use of.  The remaining parts are reference, atleast to me, and will be used when these situations come up on planning.  There aren't many reviews on Amazon, but I distinctly remember one wellness coordinator saying they use this book all the time and come back to it as reference.  Hope you can find it useful, too!

Milken Institutes, "An Unhealthy America"

While writing some well-being emails for work, I ran across this interesting research done by Milken Institute.  I've never heard of Milken Institute, but some web searches show that it is a reputable, non-profit, non-partisan economic think tank.  The original founder looks a bit shady (Mike Milken, who pleaded guilty to six accounts of securities and tax evasion).  However, the reputation of the Institute seems to have outweighed the founder's woes as it seems to be highly regarded and the accomplishments it has made have been profound.

This research and summary not only looks at the current status of America's health, but looks at trends and projects what the health status will be beyond 2020.  Although not factual and will only be proven with time, it is interesting to see what it will be like if current trends continue.  Just a word of warning:  it's not good.

Here's an interesting tidbit that can whet your palate:
They researched 7 different diseases that accounted for an economic impact of $1.3 trillion annually.  Of this amount $1.1 trillion are due to lost productivity (workplace wellness, people!)

There are some really, really good graphs in there, as well:

This graph also shows the importance and the reason why so many workplace wellness initiatives are trying to find ways to calculate presenteeism.  This metric can make or break a business, and is surely one of greatest things impacted by a wellness movement.

Take a look at it... and let me know if there should be red flags about this institute (ethics, conductivity, etc.).

Pushing Boundaries

Just to update you all on the progress of getting on-site exercise equipment at our worksite:

I just received an email from the corporate office saying that on-site exercise equipment is not permitted.  The wording was pretty much, "no way, no how".  Bummer!

During the time I was waiting to get permission, I had secured a lawyer that could potentially help me write a liabilities release form.  I still plan on pursuing it, because this topic will come up again.  Plus, it is good personal experience to draft this type of legal form.

I suppose life goes on, but I was pretty sad that I got this news.  Remember my post about turn a "no" to a "yes"... well, I'm going to still live by this philosophy.  I'll keep pushing the boundary to make things happen!

Just Beginning the Path to a Wellness Movement? Read This First!

There are good resources and then there are superb resources.  This just so happens to be a superb resource.  If you are building a wellness plan from the ground up, read this article by WELCOA's magazine, "Absolute Advantage".  It's an 88 page-long, detailed outline on how, where, and when to do certain tasks for starting a movement.  Stuck on how to do a needs assessment?  This article will tell you why you need to do it and how to design and implement one.  In most cases, the article will also point you further to other sources for additional help.  The article or "guide" is meant to be comprehensive and is based upon the statistics of more than 600 wellness programs.  I haven't gotten to the second part yet (an entirely separate article dedicated to the later stages of wellness implementation), but I am sure it will prove just as useful.  This article is definitely a must read.

Cheers to superb resources that provide top-of-the-line help!

Wellness Proposals - Another Useful Tool

For those of us that are starting a wellness movement or thinking about starting one, any helpful advice or resource is great to put in our toolbag.  Whether it's friends, people in our professional network, or a website that can help give us a guiding light, anything that might prove useful we hold on to for future reference.  

 ran across this website the other day, and it's got some great information not only starting a movement, but how to evaluate it and such.  Take a look at Wellness Proposals at wellnesproposals.com, they have some good free information on there (including a useful blog), but they also have some paid services.

Edit: I will be adding this one to the "Useful Links" sidebar for easy access!

The Smoker's Dilemma

Wake up and grab your first cigarette.  11 minutes.  After breakfast, another cigarette.  11 more minutes.  By the time the day is over, the average smoker will have shorten their life by nearly 4 hours.  
Ready for an onslaught of statistics?

While watching fireworks for the first time with my 11 month-old son, the two ladies in front of us seemed to be oblivious to the above numbers.  In the two hour span that we watched the outhouse races and the fireworks show, the ladies each reduced their life expectancy by 44 minutes.  This, combined the cost of a pack of cigarettes (in Nebraska, it's somewhere in the $5 range, New York is near $11), the additional costs of the increase in disease burden, and the added health risks that are imposed on the surrounding people the numbers are completely staggering.
Smoking, by far, is the #1 preventable cause of death, with 443,000 people dying prematurely due to this habit (this accounts to 18% of all deaths in the U.S.).  The diseases and illnesses caused by smoking costs the U.S. $96 billion in healthcare costs.  Taking this number and dividing it by the national population, it costs you, the individual, $303 per year.  Have a family of five?  No one smokes?  You're still paying roughly $1500 to help pay for the healthcare of those that smoke (these numbers include the cost of stop smoking campaigns).  
In a weird twist of statistics, some estimate that healthcare costs would actually rise.  According to this study, costs would rise 7% for men and 4% for women.  Why?  People would live longer and contract other illnesses that would put a greater weight on healthcare spending.  But, this isn't a story about cost vs. savings, it's a story about the impact that this habit has on your health and the health of those around you.  
If you are a wellness coordinator/coach/educator, this could be your number one fight.  Depending on the demographics, smoking could be costing your company big money.  If this is the case, smoking cessation initiatives are a must - look into what your employer offers, their health insurance company may have a program, or even local groups and classes.  Also, look into being a smoke free campus (or tobacco free) - no smoking in or near the workplace, including the parking lot.  It may be a long process to become smoke free, but it is definitely worth it.
I don't ask people to stop smoking, I plea with them.  It is unimaginable the amount of mental toughness that is required to quit such an addiction, but to me, there is no question as to whether it should happen.

Cheers to those who are empowered to quit their tobacco addiction!

The Physiology and Importance of Motion at the Workplace

An article published by Wellness and Prevention, Inc. outlines an interesting approach to connect employee wellness to their engagement at the work place.  Using documented research done in sport psychology, they studied the effectiveness of having "breaks" at the workplace.  These "breaks" consist of 1-2 minute bouts of vigorous exercise every 30 minutes that an employee stays seated.  They tested this theory at a New Balance firm and reported marked results:  Employees felt increased energy levels along with an enhanced ability to focus.  As a result, 82% of participating employees made changes that they would likely continue.  Because of employee feedback their increased productivity, New Balance is lengthening the study by 90 days and including an extra 350 employees.  


This article does lack some evidence beyond the self-reporting of employees (which is very subjective), but I have heard of this new theory put into practice at other worksites with some impressive results.  If you have a sedentary workforce, take a look at putting this theory into practice.  If your workforce is fairly active (like mine), utilizing this strategy during meetings could improve the effectiveness of that meeting.  Just another snippet of proof that workplace wellness increases employee productivity, engagement and effectiveness!

Wellness "Movement" vs. "Program"

Program - "a plan or system under which action may be taken towards a goal" (merriam-webster.com)

What does the program imply?  Obviously it is good to have plan in place when it comes to a wellness initiative.  It is also certainly beneficial to have goals in place.  But a program has a set standard, it has a boundary that you should stay within and not wander.  It has rules and regulations, it is a limiting mindset.  

Movement - "a series of organized activities working towards an objective.  Also, an organized effort to promote or attain an end." (merriam-webster.com)

What's the difference between a program and movement?  It's all in the mindset that you have.  A movement implies that there are a series of calculated, strategic moves who's ultimate goal is to achieve an end.  A movement is always changing, it's adapting and it doesn't limit you to certain boundaries.  

This different mindset is important in the workplace wellness atmosphere.  For example, if you are having to manage different job sites - the employees at each job site are going to give it a different dynamic or atmosphere.  That different dynamic will change the way you approach new initiatives and solve problems.  Keeping the mindset that this is a "movement"  will allow you to take different, yet calculated actions depending on the circumstances.

A movement also implies that it is ever growing.  You consistently find new people to jump on board and the movement continues and gets stronger.

This change in terminology is great; it keeps your mind free and puts you in the right attitude when it comes to improving employee health - which takes precedents over anything else.

Cheers to keeping your mind open and looking for any advantage to improve employee health! 

Rule #2 for Starting a Wellness Program Within Your Workplace: Turn "No" to "Yes"

Desire. Compassion.  Drive.
When in the position of a corporate wellness leader, you'll learn not everything comes easy.  Things are tough: it's tough to get things OK'd by upper management, it's tough to get people involved, it's tough to keep going when things aren't turning out the way you want it to.  This stuff happens all the time, but you have to believe in yourself and your goals.

Right now, we are struggling on getting on-site exercise equipment approved.  It's a long and strenuous process, but will it be worth it in the end?  You betcha!  When you believe in a project, initiative or whatever it may be, work with all your might to do it.  I tell people that when I believe in something, I turn "nos" into "yeses".  You may be the only person that believes in what you do, but that doesn't mean that what you do doesn't matter.  You know the benefits, you know the rewards, and you know the impact that it will have.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  Keep fighting for it, my friend!

Cheers to persistence and the belief that your cause is for the greater good!

Rule #1 for Starting a Wellness Movement Within Your Workplace: Stand on the Shoulder of Giants

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulder of giants." - Isaac Newton

This was, by far, the most crucial step in my process of bringing wellness to my workplace.  When I began this adventure over a year ago, I sought the help of my  professors.  They have dedicated their lives to health promotion and education, so it was natural for them to support me and offer much needed guidance.  This set the groundwork for all things to come.

After these discussions with my professors, I reached out to the other group of individuals that have been pivotal in my adventure: other successful wellness coordinators.  Through some quick searches of company websites, I was able to snatch three different email addresses of area wellness coordinators.  The email wasn't elaborate, nor was it fancy in any way.  It was short and to the point and yet gave a brief overview of my story and what I was hoping to accomplish through any future conversations. One of them replied to my email, and so began my increasing depth of knowledge of what it takes to run a successful wellness movement at work.

Because of a single attempt to expand your professional network, you will reap many instantaneous benefits, along with potential benefits you would never see coming.  For example, my first contact with an area wellness coordinator led me to find the contact information for big wig management of wellbeing at The Company - of whom I have regular contact with and are huge supporters of my efforts at my specific worksite.  I know them by name, they know me by name, and they have even reached out to me for feedback on initiatives they are sending out throughout the entire enterprise.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this would happen because of an email I sent to a wellness coordinator in my hometown.  Standing on top of giants' shoulders will propel yourself forward faster than you could imagine.  Contact individuals that are experts and supporters of your cause.  The worst they can say is "no", but it may turn out to be the best decision you have ever made.

Cheers to experts and supporters of your cause!

Fact: $200 Lost Per Sick Day

This means an individual who "suffers" in their overall well-being can cost a company up to $28,800 per year according to Gallup's research.  Those who "thrive" can cost as little as $840 a year.  If your company is made up of 100 employees, and your average employee falls within the "struggling" (FYI: suffering <struggling<thriving) and you can move them to be thriving, you've just saved your company $338,400.  Across a larger corporation, we'll use Apple as an example, that represents a bottom line reduction of $204 million.  This is just a single metric of wellness that impacts the profitability of a company, and yet the numbers are astounding!

Cheers to number crunching and making an impact for your company!

Information gathered from Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements http://www.amazon.com/Wellbeing-The-Five-Essential-Elements/dp/1595620400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340287735&sr=8-1&keywords=wellbeing+the+five+essential+elements

They're Leaving Us!

My boss and coworker had an interesting discussion about a particular topic that is impacted by what I do - turnover.  We have unusually high turnover at our workplace, and it is such an issue that we need to come up with action plans on how to address this issue - and most importantly, we need to fix it.  Why does a wellness person like me take interest in turnover?
1.  Turnover, in most cases, speaks directly to engaged vs. disengaged employees http://www.gallup.com/consulting/52/Employee-Engagement.aspx (Gallup's perspective of employee engagement)
2.  Employee engagement is impacted largely by their well-being.

The question then becomes - why are our employees disengaged and leaving our business for a "better" job?  There could be plenty of reasons, and it certainly varies from place to place... but here, I have a hunch that people don't find their jobs worthwhile.

You see, in America, there's a war on jobs.  People want to feel like their work has value and that they make a difference, not in the small sense that they make somebody's yard look greener or they fabricate mufflers for a large car company.  No, they want to know that the specific job and tasks they do on a daily basis make a direct impact on how well that company does.  Right now, people only feel that way if a) they are the CEO of a company or b) they make lots of money (which just so happens to be the result of "a").  How do I apply my wellness and well-being knowledge to make these people engaged?
1. Help that employee create an identity within the company.  Make them feel special!
2. Show them the bigger picture.

My team doesn't do fancy stuff and they aren't the glitz and glam of The Company, but their jobs are vitally important to our success and what we do.  My goal will help them realize that what they do is important to me, my boss and everyone else in The Company, and that the success of their individual efforts make our worksite one of the most profitable in the area.

Some of you may ask, "but you're a wellness coach, what are doing with employee engagement?"
Here's what I will say, "show me an individual that is happy with life that is physically fit but hates work, has a poor social network, struggles financially and doesn't get involved in the community, and I will focus solely on getting people physically fit."  People don't do well in life if they pursue perfection in one area of wellbeing and forget about the rest.  Moral of the story: care about the whole person and not just one side of them.  As a wellness coach or program director, you have a unique stance that you know some of your employee's most embarrassing secrets (i.e. their health record).  They trust you with that, they will trust you with their other problems.  Do them a favor and strive to make an impact in their lives and also for your business.   You do that and you will be an indispensable part of The Company.

Cheers to engaged employees!