{"id":537,"date":"2020-01-02T14:10:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T21:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/?p=537"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:54:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T20:54:36","slug":"small-business-wellness-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make Small Business Wellness Programs Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_is_%E2%80%9Cthe_why%E2%80%9D_behind_small_business_employee_wellness_programs\" >What is &#8220;the why&#8221; behind small business employee wellness programs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_is_a_small_business_wellness_program\" >What is a small business wellness program?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#How_do_wellness_programs_impact_small_businesses\" >How do wellness programs impact small businesses?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_barriers_limit_small_business_wellness_programs\" >What barriers limit small business wellness programs?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Return_on_Investment\" >Return on Investment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Health_Insurance_Costs\" >Health Insurance Costs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#The_Administrative_Role\" >The Administrative Role<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_advantages_do_small_business_wellness_programs_provide\" >What advantages do small business wellness programs provide?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#How_can_a_small_business_start_a_wellness_program\" >How can a small business start a wellness program?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Option_1_Go_it_Alone\" >Option 1:  Go it Alone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Option_2_Use_the_Carriers_Wellness_Program\" >Option 2:  Use the Carriers Wellness Program<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Option_3_Get_Help_From_a_Broker\" >Option 3:  Get Help From a Broker<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Option_4_Hire_a_Wellness_Vendor\" >Option 4:  Hire a Wellness Vendor<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_are_successful_small_businesses_doing\" >What are successful small businesses doing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_does_small_business_wellness_success_look_like\" >What does small business wellness success look like?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#What_are_the_next_steps_for_improving_small_business_wellness\" >What are the next steps for improving small business wellness?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness-2\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote executive-summary is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-size:17px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Executive Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group executive-summary\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>How can small businesses create an effective wellness program?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"executive-summary\" style=\"font-size:16px\">Small businesses can create effective wellness programs by focusing on simple, low-cost activities that support employee health and engagement. The most successful programs prioritize participation over perfection and fit naturally into daily work routines. Even small efforts\u2014when done consistently\u2014can improve morale, reduce health risks, and support long-term employee well-being. Wellness programs do not require large budgets to make a meaningful impact.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-why-behind-small-business-employee-wellness-programs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_%E2%80%9Cthe_why%E2%80%9D_behind_small_business_employee_wellness_programs\"><\/span>What is &#8220;the why&#8221; behind small business employee wellness programs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is becoming more and more apparent: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/01\/small-business-wellness-program-ideas\/\">small businesses<\/a> need to look into an employee wellness program. There is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4471849\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">overwhelming evidence<\/a> that focusing on small business wellness makes a difference in both the employees&#8217; lives and the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-small-business-wellness-program\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_small_business_wellness_program\"><\/span>What is a small business wellness program?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A small business wellness program is an initiative designed to foster better health within the workplace, specifically for companies with fewer employees. These programs often include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>medical screenings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>incentives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>behavior change interventions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fitness programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>social support or competitions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is common to see significant improvements when these programs first kick off, it is often more challenging to sustain these changes over extended periods of time, such as 12 months. For instance, an increase of half a vegetable serving per day doesn\u2019t seem like much. However, it can have 4-5 times the impact compared to many community-based interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"How To Make Small Business Wellness Programs Work In 2022\" class=\"wp-image-104766\" style=\"width:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-wellness-programs.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/10\/health-and-wellness-programs-in-the-workplace\/\">7 Simple Strategies to Integrate Health and Wellness Programs in the Workplace<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-wellness-programs-impact-small-businesses\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_wellness_programs_impact_small_businesses\"><\/span>How do wellness programs impact small businesses?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A small company that WellSteps helped, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, saw positive results with a wellness program for their 60 employees. They had 90% participation and saw significant improvements in health behavior and productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lincoln Industries, another small group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/images\/stories\/manuscripts\/lincoln%20wellness%20results.pdf\">saw a 10 point drop in diastolic blood pressure<\/a> and a 20 point drop in systolic blood pressure after three years among those employees with initially high blood pressure. Obesity rates also decreased or stayed relatively flat over a three year period &#8212; an impressive feat in and of itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While no wellness program is making obesity go away, you can work to keep it at a low level. <strong>These two companies illustrate the impact that a wellness program can have in small business settings.&nbsp;<\/strong> Having just one employee become healthier can make a big impact in a small company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Having just one employee become healthier can make a big impact in a small company.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The majority of the companies in the United States are small businesses&nbsp;that employ&nbsp;fewer than ten people. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/smallbiztrends.com\/tag\/small-business-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">half of all U.S. workers<\/a> work in small businesses. Most of these workers&nbsp;have no access to a wellness program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/small-business-wellness\/\">Why Small Business Wellness is the Future<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"small business wellness testimonial\" class=\"wp-image-104767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/customer-stories.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-barriers-limit-small-business-wellness-programs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_barriers_limit_small_business_wellness_programs\"><\/span>What barriers limit small business wellness programs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Small employers need help implementing successful wellness programs. Repeatedly, it becomes evident that overlooking barriers can lead to ineffectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.benefitnews.com\/news\/perceived-barriers-keep-small-businesses-from-offering-benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">common barriers<\/a> small businesses encounter when striving to improve employee health and reduce employee-related expenses though wellness programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Return_on_Investment\"><\/span>Return on Investment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, wellness programs for small companies have a more difficult time quantifying a return on investment (ROI) solely through numerical data. <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240413155108\/https:\/\/www.fool.com\/the-ascent\/small-business\/accounting\/articles\/roi\/\">Calculating ROI<\/a> through reduced healthcare costs is more straightforward and accurate in larger corporations. As a result, the majority of ROI studies and case studies have been completed on large companies. f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All wellness ROI data from reduced medical spending comes from evaluations of large companies, not small businesses. <strong>This does not mean that small business wellness doesn\u2019t reduce healthcare costs, it just means that there are no published scientific studies showing this.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that there are many other benefits to a small business wellness program besides lower healthcare costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/23\/employee-health-programs\/\">Employee Health Programs Worth Investing In<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-health-insurance-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Health_Insurance_Costs\"><\/span>Health Insurance Costs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Second,<strong> <\/strong>small businesses are not self-insured. Small businesses share their health insurance costs with a pool of small employers. If the wellness program does improve employee health and lower healthcare costs, the savings are shared by the other employers in the pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Very little comes back to the employer in savings, <\/strong>since there are multiple fixed costs of administration, claims, commissions, profits, and risk and pool charges. It\u2019s unrealistic for a wellness vendor to come in and say they can help with a major reduction in healthcare costs, since the employees\u2019 health isn\u2019t the only factor in determining healthcare costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"medical costs for small businesses\" class=\"wp-image-104770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/small-business-employee-medical-costs.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>It\u2019s unrealistic for a wellness vendor to come in and say they can help with a major reduction in healthcare costs, since the employees\u2019 health isn\u2019t the only factor in determining healthcare costs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>With small businesses, you\u2019ll see a blending of the company medical cost experience with other businesses. Even if a small business has the healthiest employees, any savings that occur will be shared by every business in the pool. A company could hope to reduce by only about 2-5% the cost of insurance premiums if they are a healthy group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/29\/costs-advantages-employee-wellness-program\/\">The Costs and Advantages of an Employee Wellness Program<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-administrative-role\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Administrative_Role\"><\/span>The Administrative Role<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the biggest barrier to small business wellness is the question of \u201cwho will oversee wellness initiatives?\u201d In a small business, employees wear many different hats.&nbsp; Most likely the task of starting and administering a wellness program will be giving to an employee who already has multiple job roles and little, if any, experience running an effective wellness program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is rare for programs like this to actually succeed.<strong> A successful wellness program at a small business will require some outside help if it has any chance of showing positive outcomes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/corporate-wellness-consultant\/\">5 Ways a Corporate Wellness Consultant Helps Programs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-advantages-do-small-business-wellness-programs-provide\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_advantages_do_small_business_wellness_programs_provide\"><\/span><strong>What advantages do small business wellness programs provide?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The advantages of doing wellness in a small business go way beyond a direct monetary ROI. There is strong social support to capitalize on and participation is always higher in a smaller group. In a small company where employee benefits may be limited, wellness can help build strong morale. <strong>Also, small business owners tend to care more about their employees &#8212; often creating an environment where everyone is treated like family.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The health benefits of small business wellness are also more important than the same benefits would be in a large corporation. In a small business setting absenteeism and presenteeism (physically at work but not really working) are more detrimental. Because there are so few employees, the absence of just one can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike large companies there is not a group of employees who can pick up the slack or complete the unfinished work. Employee absence in small companies has a big impact. Employees who have health risks are more likely to be absent from work or to have reduced productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"advantages for small businesses in wellness\" class=\"wp-image-104771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/advantages-of-wellness-for-small-businesses.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Small businesses that do wellness see monetary savings outside the typical ROI healthcare cost measures. <\/strong>They may experience lower absenteeism, lower workers compensation fees, lower short and long-term disability and lower turnover. When employers send the message that they care about their employees\u2019 health, they will see a return on their investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>When employers send the message that they care about their employees\u2019 health, they will see a return on their investment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Research has shown that small business wellness programs can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/images\/stories\/manuscripts\/small_business_cohort.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">improve health behaviors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/images\/stories\/manuscripts\/lincoln%20wellness%20results.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">lower elevated health risk<\/a> despite what odds may seem to be against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/05\/13-office-wellness-ideas-to-improve-employee-productivity\/\"><strong>13 Office Wellness Ideas to Improve Employee Productivity<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-a-small-business-start-a-wellness-program\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_a_small_business_start_a_wellness_program\"><\/span>How can a small business start a wellness program?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once an employer has addressed their barriers and understands the necessity of a worksite wellness program, what do they do next?&nbsp;Well, they have a&nbsp;few options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-option-1-go-it-alone\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_1_Go_it_Alone\"><\/span>Option 1:  Go it Alone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first &#8212; and arguably least effective &#8212; way is to go at it alone. This is where they pick, for example, the person in accounting who does yoga to be in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is unrealistic, however, to expect someone whose job description doesn\u2019t involve wellness to create and manage a successful program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-option-2-use-the-carriers-wellness-program\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_2_Use_the_Carriers_Wellness_Program\"><\/span>Option 2:  Use the Carriers Wellness Program  <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A company can also try and use insurance carrier programs. Most of these solutions offer nothing for small businesses. Anything they do offer is self-directed, meaning employees must take themselves to the website, log in and find what they want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There is no evidence of effectiveness<\/strong> and, in fact, data from four of the largest carriers shows these programs reach less than 2-5% of employees. Self-directed <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240805050238\/https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/alankohll\/2017\/06\/22\/why-more-employees-dont-embrace-wellness-programs-and-how-to-fix-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">programs have very poor participation.<\/a> And, furthermore, they are only available if you stick with that carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, these programs are 100% self-serving for the carriers. If your company changes insurance carriers, all wellness efforts vanish. These programs range from free to $250 per person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/demosignup\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1576\" height=\"693\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents.png\" alt=\"WellSteps wellness solution, Small business wellness programs, how to create a wellness program for a small business, leadership support for wellness programs\" class=\"wp-image-2233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents.png 1576w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-768x338.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1024x450.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1140x500.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1576px) 100vw, 1576px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-option-3-get-help-from-a-broker\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_3_Get_Help_From_a_Broker\"><\/span>Option 3:  Get Help From a Broker<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A third option is to use an insurance broker to help with wellness. The brokerage might have an in-house wellness specialist that comes by and helps with a biometric screening and a health fair or a health risk appraisal. Unfortunately, these aren\u2019t always available to small businesses, and there is no evidence that they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A big problem with health risk appraisals (HRAs) at small businesses is that aggregate data may not be available to view because <strong>the pool of employees may be too small to protect individual health information. <\/strong>This then eliminates one of the more effective tools in strategic program planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/how-insurance-brokers-offer-wellness-to-clients\/\">4 Ways Insurance Brokers Offer Wellness Programs to Employers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-option-4-hire-a-wellness-vendor\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_4_Hire_a_Wellness_Vendor\"><\/span>Option 4:  Hire a Wellness Vendor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The final option is to hire a wellness vendor. A business that wants a successful wellness program needs someone who has direct ownership of the program and has the time to do what needs to be done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A wellness vendor may be able to meet this need and may <strong>be able to do so at an affordable price.<\/strong>&nbsp;In a small company, there are limits to what kind of programming can be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A fitness facility onsite may not be an option, for example, and some programs can cost between $100-200 per person. This is where a broker is important. They can help find funding for wellness by adjusting co-pays, deductibles, premiums, or&nbsp;may even&nbsp;pay for the cost of the vendor&#8217;s wellness solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-successful-small-businesses-doing\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_successful_small_businesses_doing\"><\/span><strong>What are successful small businesses doing? <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing a successful small business doing wellness has is leadership support; senior leader support is critical. If the CEO isn\u2019t on board, the program won&#8217;t last very long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Small business do the same things that larger companies do: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>health assessments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>culture audit and change processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>activity and incentive tracking tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>behavior change campaigns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>program evaluation <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Other benefits offered in a wellness program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>stress reduction programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recreational programs, such as company sponsored sports teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>weight management programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>smoking cessation programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>one-on-one health coaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>health screenings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>exercise programs and activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>nutrition education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>vaccination clinics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"wellsteps guides and programs\" class=\"wp-image-104776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wellsteps-guides.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At WellSteps, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/kit\/guides.pdf\">WellSteps Guides<\/a>&nbsp;work with coordinators at each location to handle much of the planning, administrative load, and implementation of wellness program components. Our WellSteps Guides are the secret behind every one of our successful small business wellness programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-small-business-wellness-success-look-like\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_small_business_wellness_success_look_like\"><\/span><strong>What does small business wellness success look like<\/strong>?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Insurance brokers are typically small businesses. Borislow Insurance, a small brokerage company in the Northeast, has been exceptionally good at doing wellness. WellSteps has worked with them for many years and has<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/images\/stories\/webinars\/other%20webinar%20attachments\/WS_CaseStudy_BorislowInsurance.pdf\"> published a case study<\/a> on the impact of their wellness program. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only has Borislow Insurance benefited from having an employee wellness program, but they are now in a position to speak with authority about wellness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As they talk about wellness with their various small business clients they gain trust because <strong>they have actually been practicing what they preach.<\/strong> It doesn\u2019t make any sense for a brokerage firm to talk to their clients about wellness if they don\u2019t do it themselves!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-next-steps-for-improving-small-business-wellness\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_next_steps_for_improving_small_business_wellness\"><\/span><strong>What are the next steps for improving small business wellness?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Small businesses are the future of wellness. Because of specific barriers and advantages, small businesses need help conducting effective wellness programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If done correctly, small businesses can use wellness to improve employee health and the bottom line.  Discover how in a <a href=\"http:\/\/wellsteps.com\/demosignup\"><strong>Free Demo with our team<\/strong><\/a> and we&#8217;ll show you the best next steps you can take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/wellsteps.com\/demosignup\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/CTA2-1024x597.png\" alt=\"free demo with wellsteps team\" class=\"wp-image-104676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/CTA2-1024x597.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/CTA2-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/CTA2-768x448.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/CTA2.png 1092w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773694432495\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What small business wellness strategies work even with a limited budget?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Effective small business wellness strategies include simple challenges (hydration, steps, gratitude), short educational messages, and easy tracking tools. Small companies often thrive because their culture is close-knit, making wellness feel more personal and impactful.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773694435573\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can small businesses launch wellness programs without adding more work to HR?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">By using a platform like WellSteps, small teams can automate reminders, tracking, incentives, and themes with the support of a WellSteps Guide. This keeps small business wellness running smoothly with minimal admin time.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773694436213\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why is wellness especially important for small business retention?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Small teams rely heavily on each individual person. Strong small business wellness efforts reduce burnout and turnover\u2014two major challenges for small employers trying to keep good talent.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Small business wellness programs have barriers and advantages. Here is everything you need to make small business wellness work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":104766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[581,11,63],"tags":[2431,44,2432,22],"class_list":["post-537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness-consultants","category-worksite-wellness","category-worksite-wellness-program","tag-small-business-wellbeing-programs","tag-small-business-wellness","tag-wellness-in-small-businesses","tag-wellness-programs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How To Make Small Business Wellness Programs Work<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Small business wellness programs have barriers and advantages. 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