• Fewer health insurance claims
• Many insurance companies offer reduced premiums
  
• Less time off for illness
  
• Greater productivity due to more energy
  
• More motivation to do well for an organization that treats them well
  
• Less turnover and retraining costs
• Employees may benefit as individuals by increasing the quality of their lives, both on and off the job. This may mean more energy to do the things they want to in their personal lives, whether it be fun activities with the family, individual hobbies, or social activities.
• This result, in turn, can help keep stress levels down and allow employees to better handle challenges on the job.

IMPLEMENTING A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
The most successful programs have the support and encouragement of management at all levels. According to William Steere, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Inc., one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies:

• "Having a healthy, motivated work force is vitally important to the company as a whole."
  
• "We believe that we have a responsibility to give our people the resources they need to stay as healthy as possible."
  
• "The personal happiness of our people - and their ability to pursue and achieve their own goals - are critical to the well-being of our company." {Adapted from AWHP Worksite Health, Spring/Summer 2000}

The concept - success requires everyone's efforts:

• Top management support - financially, conceptually, in practice, and as positive role models. They allow themselves and encourage their employees to take time to participate in various program components.
  
• Middle management and supervisor support - conceptually, in practice, and as positive role models. They allow themselves and encourage their employees to take time to participate in various program components.
  
• Employees encourage co-workers to participate and are willing to make healthy changes themselves.

 
Putting Theory into Practice:
What does Health Promotion include?
 

The budget for Health Promotion can be as small or as large as the organization deems worthwhile to meet its needs. HEC recommends including at least some programs in each of the 3 areas of Awareness, Information, and Intervention, both for the company as a whole and for the employees.
 

3 STAGES of CHANGE:

1. Awareness - recognition that a problem exists. Without awareness, it is unlikely that action will be taken.
   
2. Information - gathering data to help make an informed decision as to what the plan of action will be; thinking about making changes.
   
3. Intervention - actively doing something to make those changes happen!

WHAT STAGE ARE YOU IN ???
 

For the Company:

1. AWARENESS - You may have noticed or been told about occurrences that are detrimental to your company's success.
   Examples include: employee turnover, excessive sick leave, tardiness, lack of energy, low productivity, high health insurance claims, lack of enthusiasm for work, number of accidents (on and off the job).
   Or, you may be pro-active and decide to do something before these things happen. Preventing problems is often less-costly than dealing with them after-the-fact!
   
2. INFORMATION - HEC recommends looking at the big picture by doing a Health Assessment of the Work Environment. You may also want to calculate an estimated Return on Investment.
   Environmental assessment may include a look at: Organizational policies, mental health, physical activity, safety, disease management, substance abuse, nutrition, work/family issues.
   
3. INTERVENTION - Use the information gathered to implement those policies and programs which will help meet the organization's short- and long-term goals.

HEC can assist you in setting up and managing many aspects of your "Healthy Organization" policies and programs. We offer the benefit of "one-stop-shopping" to reduce the time and effort you need to spend to have healthier and more productive employees.

For the Employee:

1. AWARENESS - Are the employees aware that current or potential health problems exist?
   
   
   • Employee Survey -- Helps determine what employees want
     
   • Health Risk Appraisal -- Helps determine what employees need based on statistical data. Hopefully this matches what they want, but if not, information provided may help motivate them to make healthy changes.
   
   
2. INFORMATION - Learn more to help motivate the employees to make healthy changes.
   
   
   • Health Fairs - can be basic or comprehensive, including screenings, demonstration. Most successful if management encouragement and attendance, along with incentives.
     
   • Fitness Evaluation -- Assesses the individual's current relative health status with respect to cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and body composition.
     
   • Screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoporosis, etc.)
     
   • Displays (bulletin boards, etc.)
     
   • Literature / handouts
     
   • Video Breakfasts, Lunch-and-Learns, etc.

    
   

3. INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING - Help the employees meet their goals by putting plans into action including:
   
   
   • Health Education classes
     
   • Fitness Classes
     
   • Fitness Competitions
     
   • Resource Library
     
   • Reimbursement Program
     
   • Incentive Program