Pub. 1 2012 Issue 2

20 San Diego Dealer W orksiteWellness is a hot topic these days and rightfully so.With health care costs on the rise, both employers and employees are looking at ways to lower those costs. While study results vary regarding the overall savings an employer realizes when instituting a wellness program, many have indicated savings between $3 - $6 per dollar invested. In order to keep the cost of managing expensive chronic condi- tions low, fewer employees need to have them and/or acquire them. Employees’poor choices around nutrition, physical activity and tobacco usage contribute greatly to many costly chronic health conditions. Proper stress management and regular preventative care are also critical to rising health care costs. While integrating wellness is a fairly new concept to most companies, the guiding principles are not. A few small changes can lead to significant improvements in both physical health and productivity. The building blocks of a healthy workforce begin in these five areas: 1. Nutrition A proper jumpstart to the day startswith a healthy, well-balanced meal. According to the Wellness Council of America, eating break- fast can help raise metabolism by 10 percent. If you’re providing breakfast for a morning meeting, food options such as oatmeal, whole fruit, egg whites and wheat bread can sustain energy levels and enhance focus during the meeting. Foods that are high in fat and sugar can slow down employees before the day even gets started. Full-time employees spend more time at work than they do at home. While some may bring healthy food to work to eat throughout the day, Five Steps to a Healthier Workforce BY TODD PEARCE many rely on the options available to them either at the office or nearby. By providing fresh fruit either for free or for purchase in the break room, you will be taking a small but vital step to improve the daily nutrition of your employees. For those that rely on the office vending machines for snacks or lunch, their choices are limited to chips, soda and cookies laden with saturated fat and excess sugar. Have you considered adding healthier options such as pretzels, nuts and unsweetened tea? There are even healthy vending machines that are refrigerated and can support a wide menu of healthy snack options. Lastly, you can take a“concierge”role to better improve the nutritional habits of your work force by identifying and promoting local resources. In your community, there is most likely a Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Farmer’s Market or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This information can be listed in a flyer and placed near benefits information or put on your company’s intranet. By promoting local resources, you are communicating to your employees that their nutritional habits and overall wellness is important to the company and that you are supportive of their efforts. 2. Physical Activity Employees don’t have to be marathon runners to be physi- cally and mentally at their best while at work. Small habits, such as a daily fifteenminute walk, or regularly taking the stairs instead of the elevator are great ways to improve employee productiv- ity. Physical activity challenges, such as a steps competition, are a great way to not only get your employees moving but also to engage employees at work through a fun activity. There are several vendors that