What are the key components of a successful wellness program?
Again, you have to be consistent. You can’t encourage healthy eating and then have unhealthy food in the vending machine or at the cafeteria. Also, if you encourage exercise, but don’t show employees proper ways to do it or give them the time and flexibility to do it, they probably won’t. You have to commit to and support the programs you implement.
How do you drive employee engagement?
This should come from your wellness advocate or team. Employees need to feel a connection from their peers; they don’t want to feel like management is forcing them to eat differently or exercise more. Having an excited and engaged wellness champion will make it easier and more likely that people will get involved.
Also, you can offer incentives and rewards such as cash, time off, health-related cookbooks or exercise equipment, or even just acknowledgement in the company newsletter or lunch with the boss. You could even offer a health care premium incentive — lower your cholesterol or stop smoking and pay less for health care. Whatever you do, make sure the incentives are meaningful and valued by your employees.
How do you handle opposition?
Employees may be leery about sharing their health data or taking part in fitness activities. But if you have good wellness champions and show proof of the programs working, you can alleviate those fears. Employees will embrace a wellness program that challenges them both physically and mentally. Again, increased participation can be expected if you offer incentives. If that’s not enough, make sure the program is well organized and promoted so the employees are constantly aware of the wellness opportunities available to them. Focus on increasing awareness, supporting health management or personal change, and promoting healthy work climates.
How does developing such a program benefit a company?
It depends on your goals, but wellness programs have the potential to decrease absenteeism, reduce medical claims and improve employee productivity, recruitment and retention. All of those things are great and very important, but, bottom line, a wellness program is the right thing to do. Take care of your most valuable asset — your people.
Cecelia Wagoner is the executive director of Corporate & Community Health for WellStar Health System. Reach her at (770) 793-7181 or [email protected].
