The new year is here, and whether your company wellness program is new or been in place for a while, this is the time of year when employees are most likely to initiate wellness activities. So before the New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside, take a fresh look at your programs to see that they are encouraging full participation.
You may have purchased a corporate wellness package, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But often such programs are one-size-fits-all, while most research shows that the most successful wellness programs are customized.
Don’t throw up your hands in despair if you feel you’ve thrown money at something that won’t work; just realize that you need to tailor your purchased program to your company’s needs, and to specific populations within your structure. For example, 20-somethings will probably be more motivated by fitness challenges and messages that speak to their vanity, while older workers might be more likely to respond to information about disease prevention.
Also be realistic about changing lifelong habits overnight. Obesity is the number one health problem facing the healthcare industry today, which means you have a two-front war: diet and exercise. Eating patterns are established very early in life and often come with strong emotional ties; even the most well-intentioned have trouble thinking about food differently. Simply offering a program and self-service links to websites probably isn’t going to motivate much change.
The following strategies are recognized by industry experts for making sure your wellness program is still alive and well after Groundhog’s Day.
- Get support from the top. Your executive team can set an example by visibly participating in wellness programs. Top leadership should also share the “we’re all in this together” message about controlling costs.
- Put your money where your mouth is. Research shows considerable ROI is possible with wellness programs. But success doesn’t come for free. Be prepared to outlay some expenses in order to see a greater return.
- Get the word out. Motivation takes reminding. Constantly. Keep the message fresh and keep it coming. Tailor it to small groups, down to the individual level if possible.
The Businessolver online enrollment platform offers many opportunities to promote and track wellness participation. Your wellness plan can be linked to annual benefits enrollment, and then promoted and supported all year long with links to websites, custom messaging, surveys and more. Resolve to connect with your Businessolver representative today to find out how we can help you achieve your company’s wellness goals.
