The primary goal of an effective worksite wellness program is to create a supportive work environment that encourages healthy behaviors from employees. Employees will be healthier, happier, and more productive in a workplace that supports wellness.
Customize your program by selecting which tasks to implement.
One Star Activities – Tasks that should be completed by every organization. These are the “must-do” basic building blocks of a wellness program.
Two Star Activities – Enhanced activities for wellness that may require dedicated staff and some financial resources.
Three Star Activities – Suggested items that require more significant time or financial resources to implement and are value-added activities.
Get Leadership Support
Management support is critical for implementing a successful worksite wellness program. In order to implement activities and create new policies, management must be on board to give approval. If you are not the senior leader in your worksite, communicate with management about the impact of worksite wellness programs on employee health, productivity, absenteeism, and cost savings.
Tips
- Get leaders to not only talk about the importance of wellness, but visibly participate in worksite wellness programming
- Identify leaders in your organization who you know may have an interest in wellness
Helpful Links
WELCOA Article – Capturing CEO Support
Identify a Wellness Coordinator
The Wellness Coordinator will be the organizer of the worksite wellness program and lead worksite wellness efforts. This person should be committed to promoting healthy choices and the value of good health, and interested in talking with others about wellness to build interest and participation in the program.
Tips
- Seek out people who believe in the program and may have a personal story of how focusing on wellness has worked for them in their personal and professional life
- Coordinators should have an enthusiastic, positive attitude toward wellness that they are willing to share
- Have worksite wellness duties woven into their job responsibilities
Helpful Links
Sample Wellness Coordinator Job Description
Create a Worksite Wellness Committee
Developing a wellness team establishes employee ownership of the program. Establishing a wellness team with membership representative of different organizational levels, genders, race/ethnicities, etc. will help assure the program is responsive to the needs of all potential participants and will increase the likelihood of participation.
Tips
- Include members from management and staff from all organizational levels
- Make sure that committee members have their immediate supervisor’s support for the time and work they dedicate to the wellness committee
Helpful Links
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention Workplace Health Model
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