5 Tips for Implementing a Wellness Program in The Workplace
Introduction
If you're a business owner, manager or HR professional, you know that the health of your employees directly affects the bottom line. When workers are healthier and less stressed out, they're more productive and better able to focus on the job at hand. But how can you get them on board? Well, first of all by starting with yourself! Here are 5 tips for implementing a wellness program in your workplace:
Keep it simple, at first.
Keeping it simple is important because you don't want to overwhelm your employees. People tend to become overwhelmed when they're faced with every option all at once. Don't worry about implementing the "perfect program" that's going to fit every employee—just start with one or two things and see how it goes.
Another reason why keeping things simple is important: You'll be able to measure the success of your wellness program more easily if it's only one thing at a time, instead of 5 or 10.
Get the management team on board.
To be successful, you need the support of your management team. The two most important things they can do to help your program succeed are:
Help get funding for your wellness program. This means helping with the budgeting process so that the funds are available when you need them.
Provide support to employees who implement wellness initiatives in their departments or teams so they feel comfortable sharing what they are doing and learning from each other.
Ask employees for their input on wellness initiatives.
Don't forget that your employees are the experts on their own health and wellness. They know what works for them, and they can also help you identify the most important areas to focus on. Employees who feel like they're off the hook for participating in wellness programs will be more likely to engage with them in a meaningful way.
Walk the walk!
If you want your workplace wellness program to be successful, it’s important for you as an employer or HR professional to set the example by engaging with the wellness program yourself. Depending on what program you implement, this may involve making small changes such as drinking more water or engaging in goal-setting.
Getting involved with the wellness programs yourself means you experience the benefits of the program as well as you'll have first-hand experience to talk them up and get your team excited to get involved.
Promote participation with incentives.
Promoting participation in your wellness program is another important step to success. You can use incentives to motivate employees who may be on the fence about participating in the program, but be careful not to use them in a way that feels coercive or off-putting. Choose incentives that can be tied back into your main goal: increasing work-related health and wellness.
Incentives can take many different forms, depending on the company and its goals for participation. For example, cash bonuses are often used as rewards or prizes for meeting certain goals such as weight loss, attendance at seminars and classes offered by the wellness center, and completing health assessments. Similarly, gift cards are also common incentives because they allow employees to choose their own prizes from merchants like Amazon or Best Buy.
Don’t hesitate to implement a wellness program in the workplace. Just go for it!
Implementing a wellness program in your workplace is an excellent way to improve the overall health of your employees and give them more energy and motivation. A wellness program can also provide a competitive advantage, especially in industries where employee health and well-being are key factors such as healthcare or education. Whatever kind of service or program you decide to implement, remember, start simple, get everyone on board, make it fun and rewarding with incentives AND get involved yourself!