A needs assessment can provide key data to support and plan a worksite wellness program. Before a worksite wellness program is implemented, an assessment must be done to assess the worksite’s strengths and areas needing improvement as well as employees’ interests in programs. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Service’s online Designing Healthy Environments for Work tool and the Healthy School Action Tool has everything you need to assess your worksite and employee 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.
Assess Your Worksite
The FREE, online Designing Healthy Environments at Work (DHEW) and the Healthy School Action Tool (HSAT) Assessments are the main tools for assessing worksite environments, policies, and practices for supporting employee health and wellness. The DHEW assessment is used for all non-school worksites. The HSAT assessment is used for K-12 worksites, and provides additional assessments for more school health topics.
Tips
- Use the online Designing Healthy Environments at Work (DHEW) Assessment or Healthy Schools Action Tools (HSAT) to assess your worksite policies & environments
- Conduct the DHEW/HSAT survey during the same month each year to monitor progress
Helpful Links
Designing Healthy Environments at Work
Learn What Employees Want
Employee interest and needs surveys can stimulate awareness of and interest in worksite wellness as well as give employees a sense of ownership. An Employee Interest Survey assists in finding out: what employees are interested in right now, what healthy lifestyle choices employees are making now, what programs and events employees would participate in, how employee interests and choices change over time based on their exposure to health programs and other worksite wellness initiatives.
Tips
- The Designing Healthy Environments at Work tool provides an online Employees Needs and Interest Survey
- Conduct an employees interest survey during the same month each year
Helpful Links
DHEW Employee Needs and Interests Survey Print Version
WELCOA Printable Employee Needs and Interests Survey
Use a Health Risk Appraisal
Employee Health Risk Appraisals (HRA) are an assessment of each individual employees’ personal health risk factors that may be used in combination with biomedical measurements, like cholesterol levels, blood pressure, or BMI. If an HRA is used, feedback should be provided to the employee combined with appropriate health education.
Tips
- Many health insurance providers offer HRAs (in person or online) to their members. See you plan provider for details.
Helpful Links
National Business Coalition on Health – HRA Decision Making Guide
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