Wellness at Work
Looking for a convenient way to make fitness a part of your everyday schedule? If so, you might want to consider one of the fastest growing and most beneficial additions to the health and fitness industry: workplace wellness programs.
There are a growing number of wellness businesses in our area that provide a range of services like health and fitness assessments, personal training, group exercise classes, wellness education seminars and more! Health professionals have created a variety of organizations to help bring these features on-site at any business, school, or other group setting, so employees and members have the chance to incorporate health and fitness into their increasingly busy schedules.
Starting one of these programs at your office can provide many physical and mental benefits to employees and improve the overall workplace environment. Research shows that people who exercise regularly are more attentive, concentrate better, suffer from fewer illnesses, and sleep better. This directly affects the workplace atmosphere because an attentive, healthy, and well-rested employee can have more productive and enjoyable days at work!
And employees aren’t the only ones reaping the benefits. By making health services available on-site, employers can boost morale by showing care for each individual’s physical and mental well-being. Also, by helping employees become healthier-employers can cut down on health insurance expenses. Healthier living means less doctors appointments and prescription medications!
Even the State of Indiana noticed the widespread benefits of workplace wellness programs and decided to help make these services available and affordable to our community. In May 2007, the Indiana legislature passed a bill that created the “Small Employer Wellness Program” (Ind. Code § 16-46-13) and the “Small Employer Qualified Wellness Program Tax Credit” (Ind. Code § 6-3.1-31.2) to encourage small businesses to partner with registered vendors to provide wellness programs to employees and receive a tax credit for money spent on these programs. This legislation is an important step in increasing the popularity of workplace wellness programs. You can find more information about Certified Wellness Programs and browse certified vendors by visiting the Department of Health’s website at
http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/wellness/index.htm
Below are a few companies that provide these types of services in your area. Each company has a different approach and focus, so make sure to shop around and find the vendor that works best for your work atmosphere and will help you create a community of health, fitness, and wellness!
FIT-Biz!
National Institute for Fitness and Sport
Corporate Services
Spectrum Health
www.spectrum-health.org
If you know of a corporate, workplace, or other executive wellness program company that should be added to this list, please send me an email at ealight@gmail.com.
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