Wellness Programs - Getting Workers Active.

• Make certain that your building’s stairwells are clean, attractive and safe, and post signs encouraging workers to use the stairs.

• Establish a wellness newsletter or intranet.

• Promote the Activity Tracker and encourage workers to track their exercise every week.

• be creative, and make the most of the workspace you have. for example, mark off a safe walking path inside or around the building.

You may also set up a training circuit, highlighting features of the worksite like stairs.

• Offer exercise opportunities at different times to accommodate night-, shift-, and part-time staff members.

• for employees in remote or satellite offices, offer equal access to key programs via the intranet. Adapt challenges to suit their environment and take advantage of local facilities and resources.

• Make physical activity available to staff members with special needs. Adapt information and activities for any staff who are visually impaired or physically disabled as well as for people  who speak English as a second language.

• Educate staff members about physical activity using information from reputable sources such as the Alberta Center for Active Living.

• Offer facilities that invite on-site exercise. Possibilities include bike racks, an exercise room, change rooms with lockers and showers, and safe and attractive grounds for walking.

• Hold walking meetings.

• Be certain to encourage staff members to walk to coworkers’ offices in lieu of e-mailing or phoning.

• Be certain to set up a stretching room. This low-cost initiative requires only a room, stretching mats, stability balls and medicine balls. Put up posters that show stretches and exercises.

• Provide incentives like shoe bags, ball caps, T-shirts or water bottles to reward staff participation.

• Loan out pedometers for three months, so that employees can find out how many steps they ordinarily take and how much activity they need to add to get basic health benefits.

• Make space for staff members to plant and maintain a flowerbed or garden at the workplace. Use any resulting produce for meetings and potluck lunches or donate it to charity.

• Plan a workplace health fair.

• Hire a certified fitness professional to design and manage an onsite workout facility.

• Supply workers with active wear that shows off the company logo.