A Simple Guide to Creating Your Corporate Wellness Initiative

Before you start any wellness program, it is important to figure out what your goals are. An easy way to do this is to survey your employees’ current wellness. Keep the survey anonymous, short and simple. Ask about exercise, eating, sleep and stress-management habits. You may think you need a program focused on physical health, but discover that employees are looking for more mental-health and stress-reduction resources.

After you receive the survey responses, you can create a plan with clearer goals. Effective wellness initiatives include physical, mental and social elements, but you should keep in mind the areas where your employees need the most support.

Establish concrete goals during this stage. Whether you want to reduce self-reported stress or increase time spent being physically active, make each goal clear so you know what to measure at the end of the initiative.

A wellness committee helps maintain morale and motivates coworkers to take part. If you are a smaller business or startup, nominating one person as a wellness champion is another option. The committee or champion can help determine how the program is structured and implemented, while support from upper management helps the initiative succeed.

Now it is time to define the elements of your program. Fitness challenges can improve physical health while also encouraging social connection within and between teams. Options range from step and distance challenges to weekly workouts or sleep challenges. Use your survey results and objectives to shape the challenge.

You can also include classes on wellness topics, such as workouts, breathing and meditation, or nutrition. Sessions can be in person, prerecorded or virtual. Other options include health screenings, walking groups, better workplace food choices or employee gym memberships, depending on your business and budget.

Make sure employees know how to participate and understand any rewards for participation or challenge winners. Wellness committee members can introduce the program to their teams and build enthusiasm. Launching with an event or fitness challenge is a great way to start with momentum.

When the program or wellness challenge ends, send a follow-up survey. It can use the same anonymous format as the initial survey and ask about the same wellness habits. Comparing the answers will help you evaluate whether you achieved the goals set during the planning stage.