It’s
no secret—construction is hard work that requires unrelenting physical and
mental toughness. Whether you’re in the field or behind a desk, men and women
who take on a career in construction must exert high levels of physical and
mental energy to consistently meet industry demands. Construction is tough, and
your employees need to be tougher. A fit, powerful team is the foundation of a
high-performing company that reaches its greatest potential. Follow these rules
to get the most out of your employee-wellness initiatives.
Make it competitive.
In the right environment, people can harness their powerful energy as a vehicle
to attain wellness success. Some people thrive in competitive, robust
environments, so standard social weight-loss and bite-size corporate wellness
programs just won’t cut it. Give your crew something they can sink their teeth
into: competition, contests and challenges that motivate and drive them to
achieve both individual and company-wide greatness.
Keep
it simple. In the construction field, you and your employees are always
on the go. Of course, you want to save on health care costs, but your employees
don’t have time to track their calories, fill out spreadsheets with daily step
counts or attend multiple health and wellness seminars throughout the year.
Your wellness program should, therefore, leverage technology that allows even
the busiest people to participate from anywhere, at any time. Participants need
to be able to play along from their cellphones or home computers, checking in
before/after work or during their breaks. Wireless tracking devices also act as
the ultimate referees in workplace competitions, making each contest fun, fair,
validated and regulated. By incorporating technology into your health program,
you eliminate the hassle and legwork of traditional corporate initiatives.
Remember—an effective health and wellness
program aims to increase productivity, not interrupt it.
Spread
the word. In a fast-paced atmosphere, communication techniques can
make or break a team (even an entire company). With much of your team on the
jobsite, communicating important information to everyone in a timely manner can
be difficult. Employee health should be a top priority that demands a foolproof
communication strategy—one that is customized to your company’s demographic
needs. An effective communication strategy incorporates email, posters, flyers,
health calendars, pre-shift announcements, manager-initiated group activities
and online alerts.
Walk
the talk. As a visible leader, your job is to establish and commit to
upholding company standards. Deciding exactly how to implement a corporate
wellness program and choosing which groups to include can be difficult. Is the
program designed only for those on medical plans? Is it for full-timers only or
part-timers too? Your wellness program always should be offered to 100 percent
of full-time employees, whether or not they elect medical coverage. Part-timers
and dependents/spouses are important to include as well. Why? Because employee
wellness affects more than just medical claims—it impacts job performance,
productivity, absenteeism, company culture and morale. Just as a chain is only
as strong as its weakest link, a company’s success is determined by the
successes of its employees from the top down. Lead the wellness revolution by
example. You might be surprised how much your open involvement pushes others to
join.
Buddy
up. Getting healthy shouldn’t add to your stress—it should be
energizing and should relieve your stress. Your corporate wellness initiatives
should encourage teamwork and camaraderie, which build and improve company
culture. Organized, health-based challenges create synergies that allow
employees to work together, compete and communicate in ways they otherwise
would not. Mix up your teams with each competition to build an even deeper
layer of communication.
Spread your focus. Wellness
is a valuable employee benefit, but let’s face it—you’re still concerned with
how it affects the bottom line. Health care costs are rising at an
unsustainable rate, so construction companies are making employee health and
wellness a strategic business initiative—encouraging healthy employee behaviors
to curb health care costs while creating a more efficient workforce. True ROI
is likely your ultimate goal, but implementing a corporate wellness program is
about more than just health care savings. Construction is among the most
demanding industries, requiring ingenuity, persistence, strength and endurance.
Healthy employees are more productive, stronger, less likely to injure
themselves and require fewer sick days than their unhealthy coworkers. Plus,
studies show that healthy people are actually happier overall—both at work and
at home. So, while employee wellness is certainly a viable way to save some
cash, it’s also a powerful tool that can help build a team of top producers.
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