20 Wellness Initiatives for 2012

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 75% of employers' health care costs and productivity losses are related to employee lifestyle choices. And a $1 investment in wellness programs saves $3 in health care costs, according to the Wellness Council of America.

So here is the list of the Top 20 Wellness initiatives to consider for your employees.  It just seems like good business or the right thing to do, when it pays for itself and helps employees.  

1. Plan your wellness Year
2. Conduct an employee interest survey
3. Find champions within your organization (Brand Ambassadors)
4. Post healthy tips on your intranet, newsletter, bulletin boards or pay stubs
5. Offer online and telephone health coaching
6. Offer branded merchandise for employees who sign up
7. Sponsor a corporate fitness challenge or team building event
8. Offer onsite fitness classes and weight management programs
9. Offer your employees online health coaching
10. Send employees who adopt healthy behaviors personally signed letters from the CEO
11. Support a lunch time walking/running club
12. Encourage your employees to form sports teams
13. Implement fitness incentive programs
14. Create a fitness space
15. Negotiate corporate discounts for health club memberships
16. Mandate a smoke free workplace
17. Hold onsite smoking cessation workshops
18. Offer health risk assessments to employees
19. Offer incentives for employees who participate in screenings
20. Offer relaxation, stress management, and financial wellness courses