Small Business Options

Small businesses with up to 100 employees employ half the workforce in Canada and are expected to account for 80 per cent of all future jobs. The small business sector is BIG business in Canada. ¹

Smaller businesses potentially have the most to gain from workplace health promotion. This setting offers major opportunities to access a large proportion of the adult population, who may be difficult to access in other situations as they can spend up to 60% of their waking hours at work.²

Small businesses make up 90% of the workplaces in Canada.  Many of these companies have less than 10 employees.³

A small business can be a healthy workplace that mutually benefits the employers and employees. With balanced workplace health practices both the individual and organization can contribute to a fulfilling and productive environment.

Promoting health in your workplace doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time consuming.  It’s a matter of making a commitment to workplace health, finding out what kinds of initiatives your employees want, developing a plan and putting some activities in place.⁴

There are small businesses strategies to address balanced workplace wellness.

Strategies

• Recognize that balanced workplace health consists of an interdependent set of categories
• Ensure endorsement from business owners or management
• Determine the health needs of employees
• Recognize the needs, preferences and attitudes of different groups of employees
• Be adaptable to the special features of each workplace environment
• Support the development of programs and health policies in the workplace.

Links and Resources

1. Health Canada Health Works Guide
   

   If you are the owner or manager of a small business and you want to improve   productivity, morale and safety in your workplace this guide is for you.  It outlines a simple five step process for improving business and employee health that can help you reap substantial rewards without spending a lot of time and money.

   
   
2. Health Canada - The Small Business Health Model - A Guide to Developing and Implementing the Workplace Health System in Small Business
   

   The Small Business Health Model is part of Health and Welfare Canada's Workplace Health System, and is a comprehensive approach to health promotion programming.