On Thanksgiving, it’s easy to fill our bellies with yams and pumpkin pie, and then nap to tryptophan’s sweet lullaby.  But eventually we have to wake up and face the scale’s angry red display that confirms our worst fears: we’ve packed on a few pounds.  Indeed, most of us will gain 1–3 pounds in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day—weight that often becomes permanent.  And really, who wants love handles for Christmas?  With so many of us stuffing ourselves with too much stuffing, there’s no better time for Human Resources to focus on employee wellness to fend off—or at least prepare for—the holiday bulge.

One informal type of employee-wellness program that can be beneficial to both the employees and the company is a weight-loss challenge.  In a previous blog, we talked about how a formal employee-wellness program can increase employee loyalty, morale, attendance, and productivity, and how it can ultimately lower a business’ overall costs.  An informal program can achieve many of the same benefits and can be fun and motivating at the same time.  The flexibility of a weight-loss challenge allows employees to receive incentives and to be held accountable for their weight loss, two factors that studies have proven to motivate weight loss.  Fortunately, it’s easy to roll both these criteria into a department-wide or even company-wide wellness challenge.

Consider a weight-loss challenge à la The Biggest Loser, where the employee or the department that loses the highest percentage of body weight wins a prize.  (If your company features a fitness room, this idea can extend to the individual or group that burns the most calories on the treadmill or elliptical.)  The prizes can be simple, such as a gift card or a special luncheon.  Incentives can be given not only to the challenger winner(s), but also to each individual or group when they reach certain weight-loss goals, such as 5 pounds, 10 pounds, and so on.  Small prizes can also be awarded to recognize participation and consistent weekly weight loss.  Prizes cover the incentive criteria, but what about accountability?

Accountability can be created with a chart or spreadsheet that shows off everyone’s weekly progress—just be sure to get permission to include starting weights!  This method creates accountability because participants can monitor each other’s progress, for better or worse, and it can also create incentive for participants to post good numbers and earn bragging rights.  By combining a good-spirited challenge with incentive and accountability, employees will lose that holiday weight in no time!

A weight-loss challenge is just one way HR can motivate employees with health and fitness.  True employee-wellness programs may offer other options, including stress management training, smoking cessation programs, physical fitness advice, behavioral health therapy, physiological testing, and even alternative therapies such as massage and meditation.  These programs are helping employees everywhere to feel healthier and happier, which translates into increased productivity and decreased absenteeism.  As part of a comprehensive employee benefits package, a wellness program can also serve as an attractive perk during a talent search.  A solid wellness program is a great draw for recruitment and retention.

Not sure if an employee wellness program is right for your business?  We at YES! Your Human Resources Solution can help you decide.  We’ll look at ways your business can get the most from its employee benefits and recognition programs.  Our professional Human Resources consultants will examine your programs and determine how they’re working out for your workforce.  Our recommendations can start you on the road to a happier and more productive workforce.

Let us help you optimize your employee benefits!  For more information about YES!, Orange County’s premier HR consulting firm, visit our website or contact us for a free consultation.