Start a free workplace wellness program or run a successful health management program in the office for little or no cost to your company. The benefits of workplace wellness and learning how to start a health management program at work are many. The articles on health management have generated a variety of questions, mostly from wellness providers but also from companies trying to start their own wellness workplace programs. There are a number of things to do to implement a successful health management program at work.
Suggestions for Starting a Free or Low Cost Wellness Program
Before starting a low cost or free wellness program for your company, learn more about what employees want. Survey employees to learn more about their wellness concerns. Keep the survey confidential to protect employees’ identities. Typically the most popular workplace wellness topics are smoking cessation, weight loss concerns and heart and cholesterol health.
Look for Workplace Wellness Freebies
Find out who will come in for free to talk to employees and explore partnerships with outside agents related to workplace wellness. For example, contact a local branch of a well-known weight loss company and ask if someone can come in and talk to employees. Look for agencies that are willing to come in and talk about topics related to wellness at no cost to employees, in exchange for something from you.
Find Workplace Wellness Partnerships
Working with a weight loss company to set up a speaking engagement for employees is the perfect opportunity to explore a potential wellness partnership. The weight loss company may say that if 10 employees join the program, they will hold weekly meetings at company headquarters for the people who joined. The weight loss group also might offer company employees a discount if several people join the program.
Nonprofits an Untapped Health Management Resource
There are also plenty of nonprofit agencies who would be thrilled to visit a company to discuss health management. But it’s up to you to offer them something in return. For example, if the MS Society came in and talked about the signs of MS, the company could offer to organize an MS walk (in keeping with company health management goals, right?), or an auction with employee and company-donated items where the proceeds go to MS. The people at the nonprofit agencies would be glad to open a dialog with your company and to talk about what they would want in return for a speaking engagement. In many cases, they won’t need anything at all for a first meeting.
Collecting Data and Analyzing Workplace Wellness Program Results
Collecting data and analyzing results of a workplace wellness program can be tricky because of HIPPA laws. However, if at least 10 employees joined the weight loss program, or 20 people participate daily in the all-new “Let’s Walk a Mile at Lunch” program, that sort of progress can speak strongly to senior-level management. And, company successes will potentially give management more incentive to provide money for additional health management and workplace wellness programs in the future.
