Steps to Wellness: A Guide to Implementing the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in the Workplace

The Steps to Wellness is a tool kit that helps employers create or expand wellness programs by increasing the physical activity of employees. The tool kit has seven steps and provides:

• an overview of the Physical Activity Guidelines
• suggestions on how to create a wellness culture
• examples of what other companies have done
• resources to establish or strengthen a wellness program 

What’s In the Kit? 

Steps to create, maintain and sustain physical activity and wellness programs

• Full Report [PDF-2.73MB]
• Introduction [PDF-241KB]
• Step 1:Building Support [PDF-348KB] — Helps to make the business case for a culture of wellness that values physical activity among its employees.
• Step 2: Planning and Assessing plus case study [PDF-744KB] — Describes how to develop a Wellness Committee and the importance of creating and following time lines. It also describes several types of assessments to consider when creating or enhancing your programs.
• Step 3: Promoting plus case studies [PDF-140KB] — Describes ways to market the programs and activities to employees and discusses different incentives and rewards to consider when encouraging employee participation.
• Step 4: Implementing ideas for physical activity in the worksite [PDF-1.02MB] - Describes four different tracks a company can follow to implement a physical activity program, depending on where a company may be in its readiness to implement a program: 
  • Track 1 – Getting started  [PDF-352KB]
  • Track 2 – Building momentum  [PDF-309KB]
  • Track 3 – Moving Forward  [PDF-272KB]
  • Track 4 – Keeping the pace  [PDF-393KB]
• Step 5:Evaluation [PDF-191KB] — Provides examples of different types of evaluations and discussions about why evaluating programs is important. 
• Step 6:Sharing Results [PDF-107KB] - Provides ideas on how to share your program successes with others—both internal and external to your company.
• Step 7: Sustainability [PDF-85.3KB] - Offers information on maintaining buy-in, locating additional funding sources, and leveraging state and national programs.
• Resources To Get Started and Keep Going:  [PDF - 366 KB] 
  • 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans At-a-Glance  [PDF - 362KB]
  • The Case for Physical Activity in the Workplace  [PDF - 87KB]
  • Organizational Assessment  [PDF - 68KB]
  • Reviewing Company Policies  [PDF - 75KB]
  • Reviewing Company Practices  [PDF - 55KB]
  • Employee Physical Activity Needs and Interests Survey  [PDF - 79KB]