A
good wellness program should address the needs of the entire population
while staying consistent with the vision of the company. Here are a few
key components that make-up a successful wellness program.
1) Senior Management Support
In
order to get new policies implemented, senior management must support
the policy change. Senior management will not only be needed when it
comes to financial support, but also can serve as an excellent example.
By participating in and leading the way they demonstrate acceptance of
the new wellness culture of the company. Senior management buy in is critcal to program success.
2) A Well Laid Out Plan
Like
the success of any endeavor, a well developed plan is key. The plan
should address the needs and interests of the employees and the health
and safety improvement of the organization. It should cater to
developing wellness initiatives that everyone in the organization can
benefit from and enjoy participating in. The plan should serve as the
road map for the wellness programs direction and expected outcome. Without a plan, you don't have a chance.
3) Program Evaluations
Evaluations are an ongoing expectation through out the program. The purpose of evaluations are to monitor:
- Program participation
- Participant progression or regression
- Measuring the effectiveness of the wellness program
- Compares results for the ROI analysis/ report
Evaluations are the metrics needed to determine success of program
4) Maximum Employee Participation
Your
organization can have the best wellness program in the world, but if
you don't have maximum participation, your organization will not realize
the ROI that you wish to achieve. Some of the causes that prevent
employee participation in their companies wellness programs are:
- Lack of or no incentives
- Not interested in the initiatives
- Perceived cost to the employees
If
your wellness program peaks the interest of your employees, then you
will obtain the participation goals that you are seeking and you will have a direct impact on your bottom line!
5) Return on Investment
The
goal of every company is to have more money coming in than going out.
If senior management can't see the value of a wellness program, help
them understand the numbers. Consult with your HR department to learn
your companies area's of opportunity as it relates to absenteeism,
productivity and healthcare costs. Most senior management can be
convinced when they know they are getting a return on their investment and that it is a win-win situation for both the organization and the employees.
Healthy workers make more cents!
DARIENhawkins
ROIwellness
"Healthy workers make more cents."
