Increasing numbers of small businesses are providing wellness activities for their employees. By instituting wellness programs, small businesses can improve employee morale, engender a commitment from employees, enhance the feeling of "family" among employees, improve worker productivity, and contain health care costs. Wellness programs are especially important for small businesses since small businesses often operate with very small staffs and because health insurance for small businesses is often costly or difficult to obtain. Small businesses can encourage wellness among their employees in the following ways: formulation of policies and implementation of practices aimed at supporting wellness, provision of a supportive physical environment, development of programs to educate employees and their families about the benefits of wellness, provision of small classes, development of incentives (monetary or tangible) for staying healthy, and provision of screening examinations and counseling services. The most successful small business-sponsored wellness programs are generally small, simple, inexpensive, family-oriented, and cognizant of the fact that keeping employees healthy requires providing them with a safe and healthy workplace. (Eleven examples of small businesses that have developed successful wellness programs are included in this document.) (MN)