Creating a wellness program that works

Employee wellness programs are a great way for an employer to help their employees live a more healthy lifestyle and to create a more healthy work environment. There are five specific ways that an employer can create a wellness program that really works.

Ask for employee input

One of the best things that an employer can do to create a wellness program for their office that actually works is to ask for input from their employees. It will be very helpful for the employer to know what the employees think about an employee wellness program and if they would be interested in participating in it. The employer could take time to have a meeting with their employees and discuss with them that they would like to begin a wellness program for the office. They can talk about what they had in mind and then ask for any questions or input that the employees may have.

Find out what worked at other businesses

Business owners can really benefit from the advice and example of other successful business owners, especially when it comes to creating a wellness program that works. An employer should research companies who are similar to their own business, who have a successful employee wellness program. They can find out what aspects of their wellness program(s) have worked and what has not worked for the other business or businesses.

An employer is much more likely to create a wellness program that works when they do not have to start from scratch. If the employer is able to build from the information they have learned about wellness programs from similar companies, they will start out with a stronger foundation for their employee wellness program.

Include everyone

An employee wellness program that excludes people in the office is not going to be a successful employee wellness program for very long. Many offices have a variety of employees with different physical abilities. It is important that employee wellness programs are made to work for all of the employees in the office who would like to participate. When everyone in the office is included in the employee wellness program, it is more likely to work.

Keep it important

There are many businesses that start up a program only to let its importance fade after three or four months. One way for an employer to create a wellness program that works is for them to keep the employee wellness program important month after month, year after year. This may mean that they have to put in a little more time to the wellness program doing things such as sending out memos, promoting wellness contests, and participating in the wellness program them self. But doing these things will help keep the wellness program important and make it work.

Make it worth their time

Employers can create a wellness program that works by making the employee wellness program worth the employees' time. This can be accomplished in several ways. For example, an employer should make the employee wellness program legitimate; employee health evaluations should be conducted by a certified individual who knows about nutrition, physical fitness, and health. It is not worth an employee's time if the physical fitness test they are taking will not be able to give them valid results.

An employer should follow through with any rewards they promise the winners of any health contests. By doing this, an employer will show their employee that they are happy that the employee has participated in the program and it is worth it for them to continue to participate in the employee wellness program.