Fitness Providers Can Offer Workplace Health Plans That Work

 

 

E mployee health has long been a priority for the owners of U.S. corporations. As health care costs escalate, the demand for worksite health promotion programs that improve workers’ health and provide a return on investment has skyrocketed. In my last article, I wrote about the rise of Workplace Health Promotion and, in doing the research, came up with some interesting factoids. Here’s where I left off:

Strong evidence supports the effectiveness of WHP programs targeting smoking cessation, healthy nutrition, physical activity, and weight loss. Research has also shown a positive impact on systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels among participants and businesses recognize the impact of employee well-being on their bottom line.

WHP programs lower health and productivity-related costs. A report from the American Medical Journal shows employers yield a $3–$15 return on investment for each dollar invested and an analysis of the programs estimates a $3.27 decrease in medical costs for every dollar spent. Besides the economic benefits, the value of such programs is apparent. Evidence shows WHP programs reduce absenteeism and increase productivity, a good thing.

This is fine, but DO THEY WORK? The honest answer? Some work and some don’t, and the outcome depends on whether they are intelligently designed and put into play. And there is no one better suited to design these programs than the organization that is already keyed into health and wellness as a way of life—and that would be you, the local fitness club.

It sounds daunting, but you are already set up to put these programs into play.

Here are five suggestions that may prove somewhat difficult to implement, but reports show that they can actually change the lifestyles of your employees positively.

Fitness Providers should be the leaders of these programs.
Every Workplace health program needs the visible support and leadership of the owners of the company. But company CEOs and other top management are usually clueless as to what makes a real WHP work. This is where YOU, as the fitness expert in your community, come in. Want a way to extend your bottom line? Design a WHP and present it to the corporate entities in your community.

When you present your program to Corporate, make sure it empowers workers to own the program. Companies should not impose health programs on workers as another top-down way to control their bottom line. Again, the community concept comes into play as you show workers how they and the company benefit from a healthy work environment and then enroll company leaders to give them an authentic voice in the direction and management. Someone in HR may be a yoga fanatic who tries to “enforce” their preference on a younger staff that is looking for stringent workouts instead. Getting the input of employees as to what they need in a health program will keep the exercise room from becoming a three-person “avoid afternoon tasks” coalition. Many workers will already be fitness club members. Get management’s support and aid in seeking them out and getting their advice on the programs that are the most attended and draw the most enthusiastic response at their personal clubs. Then implement them as part of the program.

Show corporate leaders that creating health as a way of life in their company is great for the bottom line.Good health programs are built intentionally. The company’s job is to create a way of life that places a total health model into every business practice, from policies to work activities. As the fitness expert in this equation, your job is building a workplace health environment that includes career and financial health, and physical and social well-being. It’s a 24/7 proposition. This involves helping corporate reimagining their workplace as a community, a group that strives for the best for each member. Establishing this mindset takes time and involvement from all staff.

Make sure you target real incentives. You can’t just pay people to change their habits. It may work for a while, but without the proper outcome, which is a genuinely altered lifestyle for the good, the reward will pale and ultimately mean nothing. Good incentives push participation rates and encourage participation. Participants don’t need external goals. They need to measure their own lives and decide to take up new and satisfying habits simply because they enjoy them and they are rewarded by better health, stamina, and the ability to enjoy life more fully.Results are critical, so measure the results that mean something. The company owner or chairman has a responsibility to their employees to make their bottom line keep the company going. So, you need to show them their investment is going to get an equivalent return and that it has real value—to their company and to employees. This means you, as the expert, must have an evaluation plan in place before the start of the program.

What can you measure besides lower medical costs and reduction in worker absenteeism? There are tangibles and intangibles and this is where the leaders of the company come in. It becomes their job to discern a healthier atmosphere, more company loyalty and the company becoming a community of workers committed to the company’s well-being and that of their fellow employees—in many cases this just takes interacting with employees daily, getting down in the traces with them and showing them your commitment matches theirs. These intangibles cannot be written in a report, but they can be recognized in a real way as you communicate with your staff.

Spread the word. When I was studying and working in journalism, I learned the basic tenants of direct communication. We always wrote our stories with these questions in mind: who, where, what, why, and when. If you are going to have a WHP that works, you must have clear communication with the people who are going to take part. Letting them know who’s in charge, what the program is, where it will be held, why this company is doing it, and when it happens is a critical part of pushing the program forward. In business, CRM or customer relations management has become one of the biggest tools for company growth. It is the same with your WHP. Let’s call it ERM or employee relations management. You must contact the participants early and often with a simple message—this company is here for YOU. This kind of communication will lead to greater involvement in your WHP and greater success levels.

Now! Let’s talk about how Online Business Manager can help you with designing your WHP. Online Business Manager Gym Software by Money Movers, Inc., is the ideal solution for implementing a Workplace health Plan that is perfect for the local corporations you partner with.

  1. With OBM’s public-facing calendars, you can design custom class and training programs that are available right on the company’s website for scheduling and booking.
  1. With our offers and signup wizard feature, the WHP programs can be available as a membership type or a custom training program.
  1. The AccessPass phone app, in conjunction with a scanner, allows participants to check in at the training room and our member check-in history report gives.
  1. If the company is working with an insurance provider, OBM can generate workout records that can be submitted directly for reimbursement.
  1. OBM’s built in CRM module allows you to create custom lists of participants that you can then contact with all announcements, information flyers, special events and new programs.
  2. OBM is also designed to work with health care providers and doctors.
  1. OBM’s trainer module allows trainers to schedule their classes and trainings and make them available on the Public facing Calendar. Trainers can also print out class attendance logs and certify class attendance.
  1. Using OBM’s reports module, you can develop different ways to evaluate attendance, different programs that the participant works through, and participation levels.

So, if you think designing a WHP program and partnering with your local businesses to implement it is a good idea, contact us. We are happy to give you a full demo of the software and talk to you about the many features and options that can help you move up to a new level of creative business endeavors at your facility.

Email us at

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 or call us at (800) 861-5029

Patrick Craig has worked in the Marketing Industry for the past twenty years. He is a published author and has written extensively about the fitness industry, particularly the gym software aspect of it. He has been with Money Movers, Inc. for the last six years where he serves as the Marketing and Operations Manager, web designer and coder, and maintains the custom websites Money Movers, Inc. develops for their Online Business Manager gym software clients.