Incorporating best practices - such as needs assessments, frequent program evaluations and capturing baseline data (Source: Sun-Life Buffet)
Measure
From Sun Life Buffet:
- 87% of organizations do not measure the health status of the majority of their employees, leaving many unaware of the risks they may be facing, and the necessary response.
- For example, blood pressure screening and smoking cessation programs are offered by 5% of employers despite 19% and 18% of employers respectively recognizing this as a major employee health risk.
Successful employee wellness programs should have:
- Senior corporate person involved and promoting
- Fitness education - why, plus what to do and eat
- Systems of measurements and goals
- Incentives - bonuses for obtaining (or in some cases maintaining) goals
- Gift cards
- Pay-off portion or all of fitness equipment or gym memberships
- Extra vacation time
- Time away from work - on companies' dime - to workout
- Internal challenges
- Switch employee drinking events for something more active and perhaps family orientated
- Corporate in-house gym, corporate gym memberships, and/or employee fitness equipment purchase plans
- Give the program a name and provide corporate updates to employees
