Healthcare organizations of all sizes offer wellness programs and incentives for their employees, such as an on-premises fitness center, weight management program or smoking cessation course. After all, healthy staffers can enjoy a higher quality of life and be more productive and efficient in the workplace. They can also draw from their personal experiences in educating and motivating patients to adopt healthier lifestyles.
But it’s a good idea for a healthcare organization to give its wellness program an annual check-up. While a new program usually starts off with a burst of enthusiasm from staffers, over time that sense of involvement and engagement can gradually trickle away. It’s like going to the gym and always spending 30 minutes on the cardio machines followed by 30 minutes lifting weights. While some people thrive on a regular routine, most employees prefer more variety to avoid a sense of staleness.
Therefore, you should analyze the program’s statistics on a regular basis to track employee participation, and then use your creativity to develop new strategies for boosting engagement. For instance, you could create small teams of employees that compete with each other in areas like combined weight loss. Or you could set up an outdoor health fair and invite employees to enjoy a day of “wellness in the park.” Or how about a contest where the person who spends the most time on a stair-climber in the fitness center gets to name the machine for a week.
It’s also important to review the program’s goals to be sure they are aligned with the current employee health situation. A smoking cessation course may have achieved its objective, for example. On the other hand, diabetes rates may be on the rise, and a program on controlling blood sugar may be of value. In any case, wellness programs can provide big benefits for staffers, their families and employers. Just remember to keep them fresh and exciting.
