Workplace Wellness in Omaha, NE 2017

Wellness in the workplace has become the focus of many, for employers and employees alike. Now that we know so much more about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and one that’s well-rounded in every aspect of our lives, that it only makes sense to capitalize on the numerous benefits of anything contributing to that end goal.

If you’re interested in ideas to incorporate into your workday or to implement in your workplace, they can be found everywhere here in the Omaha Metro. The diversity of resources covers the whole spectrum of wellness and accounts for the diversity of working environments and conditions that are present. By doing what works best for you, you’ll be at your very best at and outside of work; the same holds true for a workplace that values wellness.

Vitality…

Is defined as the state of being strong and active; energy. Something we all need at work, that’s for sure. As employees, we hope to be this unfailingly, and as employers, we hope to have this in every member of our team in order to perform at top levels.

This has everything to do with a person’s health and wellbeing. Key components are nutrition and exercise, but in truth, there are so many other things that can be utilized to achieve this feeling of zest and passion that guide our drive, productivity, and ultimately what we are able to achieve. We’ve gathered a few of the ideas we’ve found to be less prominent but well worth incorporating into the wellness offerings in the workplace.

B12 Shots

You may have heard the buzz about B12, and it’s well-founded. This is a vitamin that plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, the formation of red blood cells, and is involved in the metabolism of every cell in the human body. At levels only slightly lower than normal, a range of symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and poor memory may be experienced. Many of us aren’t getting our daily recommended intake of vitamins and minerals, so aside from taking a daily multivitamin, the option of B12 injections administered conveniently in the workplace has become attractive to many.

Chair Massages

Massage is another technique that can be performed in the workplace and has numerous health benefits. A quick 15-minute massage gets the blood flowing, which is a natural way to mimic the effects of caffeine. It can be easily targeted to each individual’s specific needs and is refreshing and rejuvenating, similar to taking a quick nap. Comparable to naps, keep in mind that the amount of time of a massage will determine its effectiveness. While 10-15 minutes is ideal for workplace massages, 20 minutes or more will relax you more than you’d want in that particular environment.

In short, massage calms the nervous system for a period of time, so afterward you’ll feel energized, a lift in your mood, sharper brain function, more focused, and a release of all of that tension and stress that tends to build up as the day goes by. It’s an employee benefit that’s fun, enjoyable, and has real health benefits that will positively impact your team and your business.

Drinking Water

Gathering around the water cooler dates way back, that’s for sure. That history alone suggests the importance of providing your employees with a clean source of drinking water is significant. “Savvy employers know they need to provide great tasting h2o, keeping their team hydrated and performing to full potential,” says Eric Schnakenberg of Aqua Systems of Nebraska. “New automatic water and ice dispensers are the way to go. You’ve probably used a typewriter in the past, but are you still using one? Chances are you’ve upgraded your technology. Those old machines still work, but there are much more efficient ways to get a message out. Water coolers are no different. Eliminate the antiquated method of using bottles, set up an automatic dispenser, and remove the water cooler from your to-do list. You can still gather around the cooler, just without the hassles of managing it.”

Healthcare…

Is important to us all, and having access to it or being able to provide it as an employee benefit at a reasonable cost is a concern for many. While it seems that there’s no end in sight to the uncertainty surrounding the future of our health care system in the U.S., it’s encouraging to see many healthcare and insurance professionals take a proactive role in adapting to the current conditions. These are people right here among us who are at the forefront of change for the better. It all starts with knowing they are out there and then it’s just a matter of looking into what they have to offer and deciding if it makes sense for your specific situation and needs.

Take early detection screening for example. In many different specialty areas, this has been proven to be a critical factor in catching serious cancers before they progress too far for the best possible recovery outcomes. Particularly with the most common types of cancer, if caught early enough, a person can go on to lead a full, healthy, and productive life thanks to the development of methods used to identify the signs that present but may not have manifested into symptoms that are noticeable. Employers are catching on quickly to the fact that they can play a part in protecting the health of their employees in this area.

“Something as simple as educating your employees about the importance of early screening at a certain age and the options that are available to them has the potential to mitigate the exorbitant costs a company could incur from the loss of a key team member’s contributions and from the treatment process, especially for SMBs that are self-insured,” advises Daniel Cinotto of FirstScan. “Our area of specialty is prostate cancer screening through an innovative, proprietary MRI procedure that’s the first of its kind as it’s completely non-invasive. Prostate cancer is the #2 killer in the U.S. for men behind lung cancer, but so many men out there are avoiding the screening process for a variety of reasons from fear of a diagnosis to anxiety about undergoing the traditional screening procedure, which is unpleasant. Our goal is to address those concerns so they become less prevalent, and to offer something that changes lives and workplaces for the better. With the potential widespread impact of this disease on the workforce across our nation, and within our local businesses caught directly in that statistical net, getting out in front of this is well-advised. While it’s still considered to be somewhat of a progressive approach, I can assure you it will become commonplace down the line. If you have a workplace wellness program, this deserves a place in it. I’d encourage anyone interest to contact us to find out more about the procedure and how it could be incorporated into your workplace wellness offerings.”

For businesses, offering a competitive benefits package that includes respectable health insurance coverage is one of the top drivers of employee retention. Finding the right fit for a company’s bottom line is an important part of the equation too. As such, the help of a professional advisor is key.

Benefit Professionals, Inc. represents all major insurance carriers while brokering group benefits coverage. The firm works with both large and small corporations locally, constantly exploring new avenues for insurance products in a proactive effort to combat rising healthcare costs and stay ahead of the ever-changing regulations in the insurance industry.

“As the link between your company and the insurance carrier, we’re able to put together a competitive benefits package composed of any of the following: fully-insured medical, self-funded medical, life and AD&D, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, Flexible Spending Accounts (Section 125), and also a variety of wellness offerings to supplement,” advises Lori Fischer of Benefit Professionals, Inc. “We can also offer our expert guidance on COBRA compliance, state continuation compliance, HIPAA compliance, Medicare Part D compliance, and with the completion of the necessary forms. Many employers are not aware of all of the compliance requirements that exist when offering a group medical plan, especially when dealing with Health Care Reform. As their broker, our clients can rely on us to keep them completely informed, build a proactive plan and be their go-to resource throughout the process.”

Plan…

Is defined as a detailed formulation of a program of action; a method for achieving an end. To achieve your goal of having the healthiest, happiest, and most productive employees on your workforce, you’ll need to make sure there’s a plan in place because consistency is key. Wellness isn’t just a one-time thing; it’s an ongoing process of actively doing things that support that goal. The same applies at the individual level. Incorporating wellness programs and offerings of any kind in the work environment is a step in the right direction, but keep in mind that the right combination of variables is necessary for those efforts to be most effective.

“Madonna Fit for Work helps employers reduce costs through a continuum of services that promote employee health, wellness, and safety,” says Karen Rehm of Madonna Fit For Work. “Evidence suggests that a holistic and strategic integration of occupational health, safety, and workplace wellness helps to better protect and improve worker health. Our injury prevention and injury management programs are led by medical experts and our corporate wellness programs focus on improving the overall health and wellbeing of employees through integrative initiatives. Comprehensive programs are tailored to meet the needs of each organization and each employee.

Annual cost savings has been on the rise for most businesses that implement a results-based wellness program. A results-based program provides the opportunity for individuals with minimal health risks to maintain their low-risk level and individuals with multiple health risks to decrease and improve their number of risks within a given time frame. Focusing on the overall wellbeing of your workforce is gaining popularity too. Emphasizing a safer work environment and offering year-round wellness programs as part of your annual wellness initiatives can reduce a company’s number of work-related injuries, boost productivity, employee retention, and improved health.”

She further emphasizes, “Senior leadership support is key to building a culture of wellness in addition to an effective wellness program. Administrative support helps establish expectations and next steps to becoming eligible for cost savings through discounted insurance premiums. Establishing an integrated wellness committee is also beneficial in designing effective programs. Data collection and analysis helps you learn more about your employees’ current state of wellbeing and helps narrow your focus based on aggregate and cohort trending data. Implementing an on-site stretching program can help prevent and manage the number of work-related injuries. Establishing a relationship with an occupational health partner can assist you and your organization in streamlining processes, enhancing communications and managing details pertaining to injury prevention, injury reporting and treatment and drug screen results. Madonna Fit for Work offers a Corporate Services Hotline where you can call when you have questions or need follow-up services.

Madonna Fit for Work partners with local businesses to help coordinate injury management needs in addition to establishing a comprehensive wellness program – a magical combination for a healthier workforce! Fit for Work offers on-site health screenings, fitness testing, tobacco cessation classes designed for individuals who smoke, chew and vape, pre-employment screens, physical demands validations, functional capacity evaluations and on-site wellness programs. Consider Fit for Work as your one-stop shop for your wellness needs.”

As the saying goes, health is wealth, and that rings true on both sides of the employer/employee coin. As you can see from the suggestions we’ve included, there are a wealth of different options out there that are well worth considering no matter what constraints are present. You may not be able to do a lot, but you can still do a little, because anything is better than nothing. Cheers to good health in all areas of our personal and professional lives in 2017!