Take Your Wellness Program from “Blah” to bril liant
Here’s f ive simple strategies.
Capture Multilevel Leadership Support Create a Health-Promoting Environment Build Effective Programming Communicate to Engage Make Health Social
Capture Multilevel Leadership Support
Give Managers a Speci"c Role
• Describe what you expect from managers.
• Provide tools – create a “Meeting in a Box” so they have everything needed to present to their staff.
Real-Life Example: Once a month have senior management hold a workout session and invite all employees to join.
Measure Success
• Set participation, engagement and satisfaction goals.
• Report on progress in operations meetings.
Real-Life Example: Tie wellness goals directly to your merit increase and/or bonuses for your company.
Create a Health-Promoting Environment
Align Wellness Program with Culture • The wellness program
should be a natural extension of your company’s core mission and values.
• Make wellness one of the top priorities.
Real-Life Example: Change cultural norms so that walking during lunch is an established expectation.
Healthy Policies • Ensure policies enhance employee health
and productivity. Some sample policies: – Replacing unhealthy food in vending machines – Ergonomically correct office furniture – Smoke free campus – Opportunities for physical activity – Healthy food at company events
Build Effective Programming
Base Interventions on Data
• Interventions should match the health risks and challenges of your workforce.
• Match some programming with employee interests.
• Follow latest trends & research in health promotion.
Real-Life Example: Sit for 60, Move for 3 a Physical Activity Intervention
Take a Holistic View
• Focus on the whole person: – Career – Social – Financial – Physical – Community
Real-Life Example: Offering Personal Financial Wellness Checkups can lower stress and improve productivity.
Incentives
• Reward behaviors that are realistically achievable.
• Make programs easily available to employees.
• Provide employees with regular feedback regarding progress toward incentives.
Real-Life Example: The Go! TotalWellness Portal has incentive tracking built in so employees always know where they stand.
C ommunicate to Engage
Give Your Program an Identity
• Get a great logo. • Develop a tagline. • Design templates and create
standards for your communication materials.
• Be consistent.
Real-Life Example: Healthy Pfizer. Helping You Be Your Best
Personalize Messages
• Address the needs and desires of key employee groups.
• Answer the question: “What’s in it for me?”
Real-Life Example: Have educational materials at health screenings directly related to each health risk – like high blood pressure.
Be Clear & Concise
• Pick one main concept for each promotional piece.
• Think teasers and billboards. • Make your messages
scannable. • Provide a clear call to action.
Real-Life Example: Call to Action: Take your Health Risk Assessment now to get your reward.
Use Multiple Channels
Vary your content types. Some examples include: – Intranet/Web Portal – Face-to-Face Meetings – Email – Internal Office Mailing – Home Mailings
– On-site Posters/Table Tents
– Screen Savers – Articles in
organizational publications
– Phone Based Outreach – Text Messages
Make Health Social
Storytelling
• People love stories. • Include personal anecdotes
and success stories in your communication materials.
Real-Life Example: Develop a peer-to-peer recognition program.
Utilize New Technology
• The interactive nature of Social Media makes it a great place to engage with employees.
• Videos can be used to generate excitement and get employees involved.
Real-Life Example: Create community page on Facebook to share updates and connect with employees.
Need some more help?
TotalWellnessHealth.com 888.434.4358
