Worksite Wellness ProgramsWorksite Wellness Programs

Worksite Wellness Programs – Employee Engagement Strategies

Worksite Wellness Programs without staff engagement are of little use to a business. How do you get employees to enroll in Worksite Wellness Programs – and stay engaged in the programs?

The brochures for these programs discuss the benefits to employees and organizations. Worksite Wellness Program statistics show that there are tangible benefits to a business for offering such programs. Worksite Wellness Programs actually do save lives by getting workers to take their health seriously, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and more.

However, St. Louis, Missouri-based Maritz Inc., the world’s largest incentive business, has applied their own invigorating twist to health management by offering gift rewards to employees who participate in Worksite Wellness Programs. The wellness incentive program is Maritz’s own Exclusively Yours® plan. Health management participants earn points, which can be then redeemed for merchandise, electronics, restaurant vouchers and travel, much like a frequent-flier program.

Enrollment incentives in Worksite Wellness Programs?

Undoubtably businesses that don’t work in the incentives industry will be tempted to cry foul about using such a rich carrot to incentivize health program enrollments. Not every business can throw that kind of money at health management resources – and not every business has the built-in savings as a business that specializes in offering incentive programs.

For certain rich incentives like Maritz’s will break through the glaze that appears over many employees’ eyes when they’re encouraged to do something new, different or challenging. For many employees uncomfortable with health management and exercise, “new, different and challenging” would apply to Worksite Wellness Programs. So where does that leave organizations who are unwilling or unable to offer incentives for health management program enrollment?

Successful Worksite Wellness Programs motivate employees – before and after signup

Worksite Wellness Program administrators should keep the long-term view in mind when trying to get employees to take that vitally important first step. Even the best incentives can fail in the face of faltering organization, badly-designed Worksite Wellness Programs and wavering support. Make sure to run good Wellness surveys before you build your Worksite Wellness Programs so worker input and needs are being met by your Worksite Wellness Programs. The goal is positive outcomes, not high enrollment numbers.

Worksite Wellness Programs cannot survive managerial apathy. If executive and managerial participation is widespread and heartfelt, employees will follow their leadership. The potential rewards and Wellness benefits are clearly worth reaping, for both your organization and your co-workers.