For the Employer

Best Practices

NIOSH Five Small Things for Small and Medium Size Employers Considering Workplace Based Preventive Programs

1. Know your workforce: age distribution, gender, culture.
   One size does not fit all.

2. Cost reduction depends on four things: disease management, workplace prevention, health promotion, and reformed insurance and reimbursement practices.
   You will not be able to do all of them. Determine which is most amenable to change and within your means and concentrate on it.

3. Target interventions to the right age group.
   Blood presesure control, diabetes detection, and reducing CV risk have the highest long-term yield if initiated in the 3rd and 4th decade. Ergonomic and musculoskeletal prevention have the most effect on severity in workers over 50.

4. Choose a model: top down or bottom up.
   Top down works best with incentives and individualized approaches. Bottom up or participatory requires dedicated time and a cooperative workplace culture.

5. Judge your internal capacities.
   If there is a human resources staff, develop internal resources. If there will be reliance on a vendor, determine your content.

NIOSH Work Life Initiative Essential Elements