Employee Wellness on a Shoestring.

Top companies realize the affects of employee wellness on their bottom line. This is evident by the billions of dollars spent on wellness initiatives by larger corporations every year.

Think you can’t start a wellness program for your small business? Think again. There are literally hundreds of ways to work on wellness at any budget. Here are just a few ideas to help you get started.

Spark People – SparkPeople’s mission is to SPARK millions of PEOPLE to reach their goals and lead healthier lives. They offer nutrition, health, and fitness tools, support, and resources that are 100% free! On their site a company can start a “Spark Team” where employees become members. They earn points by reading articles and meeting the health goals that they define for themselves. A small business could easily create some excitement about a program such as this by offering a small prize to employees who earn a certain number of points. Check them out at www.sparkpeople.com.

Purchase health and wellness magazines to leave in the break room.

WELCOA.org is another great place to start. They offer numerous resources to get a wellness program started. My favorite is an eight-page monthly publication that costs as little as .29 per issue.

Walk or Build for Charity – This will not only improve your employee’s health but can also be a great team-builder, marketing event, and will boost employee morale. There are numerous opportunities in every city. Habitat for Humanity is just one. Don’t forget to involve your employee’s family and friends for added work/life balance!!!

United Way 2-1-1 – I have mentioned this before, but what a great resource! You can now offer your employees assistance in all sorts of areas for free by using this resource. In the Kansas City area check out their site at http://www.unitedwaygkc.org.