With the tress exploding with color and falling temperatures bringing the season’s first frost, I’m constantly reminded that fall is here and winter is just around the corner. While I love this time of year, I dislike the inevitable decline in my activity levels. With the holidays almost upon us, so too are the additional calories to my regular diet. Sitting behind my desk all day, I find a real lack of motivation to exercise since it’s dark and cold by the time I get home.

I know I’m not alone when it comes to this issue. So, what can organizations do to help their employees maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially around this time of year? Many companies are offering their employees wellness programs at work. Some are elaborate, while others are quite simple. My son’s employer provided their employees a Fitbit to encourage them to maintain their health and wellness. They also provide a stipend to use at gyms, tennis clubs, and yoga studios. IBM, Virgin and Google all offer extensive programs, but not all companies have the resources of these large corporations. Many of our clients are creating minor to major programs, so organizations should try to identify what they can do and what works best for their employees.

A wellness program can have many elements to it. From health education to on-site screenings, the approach to supporting employee health and wellness can vary greatly. In November of 2012, Forbes provided four great steps to implementing a corporate health and wellness program.

Step 1. Determine the need of the employee and the employer. It is important to identify the needs of the employees and what they are looking for in a wellness program. An employee survey will help you to see what needs are pressing and what employees’ thoughts are on a wellness program. It is also important to understand the organization’s goals and available resources for providing a wellness program.

Step 2. Analyze the data and create a plan. Once the needs, goals and resources have been identified, analyze the data and develop a wellness program that will meet those needs. Be realistic and accept that everything may not be implemented at once. Do you bring in health screeners first, perhaps someone to provide flu shots? Or is your priority to provide an on-site education program or fitness classes? Perhaps providing a fitness stipend is what will work best for your employees.

Step 3. Create a communication plan. Developing a wellness program is an important initiative and will require communication to your employees. Develop a communication plan that will not only inform your employees of what is being done, but will also encourage them to participate. Keep the communication going throughout the year to keep it on everyone’s mind.

Step 4. Put an incentive plan in place. We all know that breaking old habits is difficult, but is often easier when there is an incentive to do so. Put an incentive plan in place for your employees such as bonuses, reduction in insurance premiums or create team challenges. Make participation in the wellness program fun and worthwhile!

Healthier employees are happier employees. Happier employees are more productive and engaged employees. Helping employees maintain or develop healthier lifestyle choices through the cold weather will help us all to avoid some of the winter doldrums that we face as the weather turns cold and days grow shorter. It is a win-win for all!