When the Indiana Chamber asks employers the top challenges facing their companies, among the leading concerns is health care costs. Although no one has come up with the definitive solution yet, workplace wellness programs are gaining momentum and yielding positive benefits — for employees and their organizations.

Wellness is a frequent topic at Chamber conferences, finds its way into several publications, is a frequent topic in BizVoice magazine (nutrition tips for eating on the go are offered in the current issue) and a popular program for our organization. Lunch hour yoga, kickball (yes, I said kickball), a walking club, healthy snacks, health screenings and more are helping the Chamber and its staff.

There are numerous resources to help you get started or enhance an existing program. Let us know how we might be able to help.

1. Hiring too quickly. Poorly chosen new hires cost your company both time and money. Consider trying out new people as contractors before hiring them as regular employees. See Chapter 7: Independent Contractors and Temporary/Part-Time Employees

2. Just paying everyone a salary. Who wants to deal with timecards and calculating overtime pay? Under law, certain employees who don’t qualify for an exemption are entitled to overtime pay, and can’t agree to forego overtime pay in exchange for receiving a salary. Additionally, hourly rates of skilled workers are often comparable with those of full-time staff in the same position. See Chapter 14: Wage and Hour Requirements

3. Thinking you don’t need to spend the time and money on harassment training for all staff. A study estimated that it is 34 times more expensive for employers to ignore workplace harassment than it is for them to establish effective programs and policies to minimize harassment in the workplace. See Chapter 24: Workplace Harassment

The Indiana Chamber’s newly released Employment Law Handbook (Sixth Edition) contains guidance on nearly every issue an Indiana employer needs to know about. From discrimination to post-hire employment policies to benefits to worker’s compensation, you’ll find guidance in this publication.