Promotions, ideas and info. to help you promote your business!: How's your heart?

Happy Heart Health Month!

February is Heart Health Month.This means a lot to me. I haven't shared this before, but due to my family genetics I'm on medication to lower my cholesterol to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Those that are close to me know that I am very health conscious so having to take meds for the rest of my life and knowing I can't "fix" it by myself has been hard for me to come to terms with. You know that I can always count on my Dad to make me feel better. He told me this is just the beginning, I can also look forward to cataracts, cancer, arthritis and other fun things! I just love that man (I really do. He's the most amazing father I could have asked for. Even if his sense of humor is a little warped, must be where I get it from). :o)

Are you at risk?

Spitfire Advertising is doing it's part to make you aware of your risk for heart attacks. If you'd like to take the Heart Risk Assessment click this link.

Help us uncover the truth to finally put an end to heart disease. The links provided below can help you join the cause.

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Create a Wellness Program NOW!

Losing productivity, too many lost days due to illness, feel like you can't do anything and money is just being thrown away? Start a Wellness Program! Studies show healthier employees lower costs such as insurance premiums, worker's comp. claims and loss related to absenteeism or poor productivity. There are several types of Wellness Programs and your situation will determine which one is best for you.

Take the following steps to create your Wellness Program.

1. Assess: Ask yourself what safety and health-related issues are a cost center for your company.

2. Identify: ID potential opportunities to improve and address them.

3. Leader: Assign an individual to be responsible for administrating and managing the program.

4. Committee: Create a committee of diverse employees and managers that represent your workforce.

5. Create: Design your program. Include systems to analysis progress.

6. Buy in: Managers must be on board to inspire and inform their employees. Employees must understand what is expected of them.

7. Kick off: Create an event of promotional giveaway that clearly signals the start of the wellness program to the employees.

8. Awards and recognition: Imprinted gifts are used as an incentive to help employees reach their goals. High value items for larger goals or completing the final goal. Smaller items for completing milestones along the way.

9. Evaluate and celebrate: Plan an awards ceremony at the close of a program. Include quantifiable results that prove the value of the effort.

Statistics and Benefits:

Companies achieve a health-care savings of nearly $3 for every $1 they invest in wellness programs, according to the US Dept. of Health & Human Service.

A 2010 study by Mercer for Kronos found that unplanned absences cost employers 8.7% of their payroll and 19 % productivity loss.

The Network for a Healthy California's "Take Action" work site program estimates that depending on the number of health risks an employee has, the cost per employee for obesity ranges from $175 to nearly $2,500 annually.

Employees who smoke each cost employers an estimate $1,400 per year in increased medical cost and another $3,400 annually in lost productivity/absenteeism according to the Centers For Disease Control and prevention.

Improved employee morale and loyalty, thereby improving retention is a benefit that is priceless.

Wellness programs are also a valuable perk when recruiting new employees.

Examples of problems and Wellness Programs to implement:

- Absenteeism = An illness prevention program
- Employee population has high rate of obesity/diabetes = Nutrition and fitness program
- Smokers driving up employer's insurance cost = smoking cessation program
Let us know if you need help creating your Wellness Program or the items to help you promote, reward and recognize your employees.