Employers biggest wellness mistakes

Mistake-proof your wellness program

Company-wide wellness programs are a proven way for employers to combat rising health care costs. The key to success is getting your employees to participate. That means avoiding the four most common ways to sabotage your wellness program, sometimes before it even gets off the ground.

Mistake #1: Choosing a cookie-cutter plan

Employers and company wellness teams routinely choose a program without making sure it's relevant to their workers' needs.

The first question most employees ask, however, is, "What's in it for me?" If they want a smoking cessation program, and you only have fitness classes, you're not giving your employees what they want and need. And your wellness program participation rate will suffer.

To be successful, a wellness program should start with a survey of your employees' current health and wellness habits. Do they already exercise? Do they want to lose weight or quit smoking? Are they stressed-out? These are all cues to factor in as you design your program with your wellness provider.

Then, ask about specifics based on those employee surveys, such as tobacco cessation classes, and exercise, weight management, and stress reduction programs. A good provider should be able to accommodate your company’s needs, either through their facility, within your company, or using outside resources.

Mistake #2: Being tortoise or the hare

Going too fast or too slow in your wellness activities usually results in a high drop-out rate. It's important to gauge your employees' level of experience. Otherwise, they'll quickly lose interest in the program.

Employees who have never exercised before, for example, won't want to try high-energy aerobics or zumba classes right away. Instead, you can acknowledge and affirm their current level of fitness by offering beginners' stretch and movement classes that will help them get accustomed to the idea of regular exercise.

And, while weight management competitions are very popular right now, someone new to the concept of weight loss will respond to healthier menu options in the cafeteria or a family nutrition class much more enthusiastically than to a contest. Teach them the "how" and "why" of weight management first. On the other hand, if your surveys show your employees are already exercising and knowledgeable about healthy eating, go ahead and sponsor that 5K race or company-wide weight-loss competition.

Mistake #3: Not involving employees

Within your employee survey, ask if anyone is interested in becoming a member of the company wellness team. Employees who take an active role in planning your program will then become big champions of the program. They'll spread the wellness word. Research shows that employees are more responsive to new company-sponsored benefits when they hear about them from their peers, as opposed to the higher-ups.

Mistake #4: Not participating yourself

Leadership participation is critical to the success of your program. When it comes to wellness, the phrase "Speed of the leader, speed of the team" is particularly appropriate. In your company, you're the leader, and you set the tone. Employees need to see you taking part in wellness activities right alongside them.  Leaders play a crucial role as cheer leader too. Leaders who visibly adopt a healthy lifestyle and recognize others' healthy achievements can significantly boost morale and motivation.

Almost every company reports their wellness program consistently delivers a significant ROI in preventing lifestyle-related illness and absenteeism, and promoting a more productive workforce. By avoiding these common mistakes as you create your company's program, you'll reap tangible, verifiable rewards, including increased employee participation, healthier workers, and reduced health care costs.