EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR YOUR SMALL

CITY OR COUNTY

ARIZONA CITY/COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

STEP 1: ELECTED OFFICIAL SUPPORT

2012: “Begin instituting an employee wellness program for Town personnel.”

2013: “Expand the Town’s wellness program to include financial incentives for employees who maintain or improve their health.”

STEP 2: SEEK PARTNERS

STEP 3: CREATE A CULTURE OF WELLNESS

Free gym membership Wellness worksheets with vacation incentive Annual wellness luncheon Fun events with small incentives (e.g. poker

walk, scavenger hunt, etc.) Wellness section of employee newsletter Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Brownbags and webinars Wellness vendors at annual benefits fair

STEP 4: MEASURE AND REPORT RESULTS

68% participation rate in first year Periodic biometric screenings showed

More employees’ waist sizes in healthy range (23% to 57% in females, 54% to 81% in males)

Improvements in overall risk factors and wellness scores (through BCBS online evaluation)

HELPFUL TIPS TO REMEMBER

Structure the program on performance (i.e. if you don’t use the benefit, it goes away)

Adopt a wellness policy to help you incorporate health into existing programs

Remember that wellness includes the entire person: body and mind

Don’t expect a quick ROI (3-5 years minimum), but celebrate early successes

Executive staff should lead by example The program should be just as much about

fun as it is about health and wellness