7 Steps to Starting Your Wellness Program
1. Create a point program. Build a program designed around awarding points for your employees, and award the points each month based on the achievement of various goals. Offer a great selection of attractive gifts that your employees can get by using their points.
2. Decide what goals you would like to set for your employees. You probably want to include the essentials, such as being smoke free, exercising and eating well.
3. Decide how to measure progress. You may want to build a program that includes both self-reporting and some verifiable elements. You'll likely find that employees can be trusted to be honest about self-reporting their behavior. Make it easy for employees to keep track of their healthy behaviors.
4. Decide your budget for the accomplishment of each goal. (For example, $XXX worth of points for no smoking during the previous month)
5. Make it positive and fun. You may want to ask employees for positive stories about their participation in the wellness program which you can put in a company newsletter. Make sure every communication about the program is welcoming and cheerful. The program should always be perceived as something voluntary and fun.
6. Decide what you will reward. (The reward should be meaningful enough to motivate.) We suggest a large selection of gifts in a wide range of categories, but not cash or gift cards. People may not be very motivated if you offer 50 cents or a dollar a day to do certain healthy behaviors, but there is something about points that creates a different mental perception that can multiply the motivational impact of your budget.
7. Finalize the details. (Who's eligible, how will employees select gifts, program rules, how to announce program to employees, etc.)
8. Start your program with a bang! Create some fun and mystery about a surprise announcement, start it out with a big meeting or celebration.
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