How to put together an employee wellness program

Employers are beginning to realize in ever growing number the benefits of setting up an employee wellness program. Best of all business owners can tailor an employee wellness program to the needs of their employees and their budget. There is a wide variety of different types of employee wellness program. The basis of all employee wellness programs is to encourage the employee to take steps that will help prevent the onset of illnesses, and lead to lifestyles that are healthier.

Businesses have chosen to do this in a number of different ways that range from newsletter and classes about wellness issues, to put in an onsite fitness center. It is important to keep in mind that this range of programs if they are implemented correctly can still yield substantial benefits. Some employer have seen significant savings and increased productivity even though they are only using a few health initiatives, while other employers have put into place a large and comprehensive employee wellness program. No matter how you choose to do it, for your company, the most important part is to just get started. Even starting with just a few health initiatives can lead to bigger things in the future. Here is what you need to know about how to put together an employee wellness program-

• Start with support from upper management-The bottom line is that if you don't have the support of the senior levels of management; it is unlikely that your employee wellness program will last for long. It is crucial that senior management understand that the employee wellness program will have several benefits, for employees and for the company. They must also be willing to fund the process of designing, evaluating and putting the program in place. It can be helpful to research what other businesses are doing. This way you can link the employee wellness program to the goals of the business, along with the priorities and values of the management team. It is also important to try to get senior management to become active in the program as well.


• Set up a team to oversee the program-It is important to establish a team that will be in charge of the employee wellness program. This health promotion team will work best if it includes a variety of participants including but not limited to: senior management, workers, and human resources. The team's goal will be to design the program, oversee the implementation, and then evaluate how well the program is working. This also has the additional benefits of giving ownership of the program to the people who are most invested in it. The health promotion team will be ultimately responsible for the development of the employee wellness program.


• Gather the data that the team will need-Once you have decided who will be on the team, you will then need to gather the information that will determine both the interest and the health risks, of the staff. This is important since the program must focus on the needs of the participants in order to be effective. The results of the data that you collect will be what determine the direction of your employee wellness program. This can be done in a variety of ways including but not limited to: employee questionnaires, health assessments and a review of health claims.


• Create the employee wellness program-Now is the time to formally create the program. Keep in mind that for the best results you should have a goal, along with both short and long-term objectives. You should also keep in mind that your employee wellness program is a lot more likely to succeed when it is linked to the strategic needs of the business.