Corporate Wellness Programs: Effective Corporate Wellness Program planning
Take the time to plan Corporate Wellness Programs before they are started.
Effective planning enables better use of all your resources. Include all the steps below when you plan a Wellness activity.
* Do your homework – Find the science and research that support your initiatives. Look for similar Corporate Wellness Programs that already exist.
* Determine the specific health need(s) – Use these needs to target initiatives to problems that are an issue for your population.
* Organize a team – A team is a resource multiplier. Network and build as many partnerships as you can.
* Make a plan, but don’t start completely from scratch. Make a written plan for your Corporate Wellness Program. Look for every opportunity to take advantage of resources that already exist. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
* Select a focus – Choose one or two main target areas for Corporate Wellness Programs. Address all five stages of change in the target areas rather than trying to hit every possible Wellness topic.
* Determine your resources – What assets do you have? What assets will you need? How can you fill the gaps?
* Get Senior Management support – Think like Senior Management. Communicate the value of Wellness from Senior Management’s perspective.
* Begin the activity- Be flexible. Be prepared for unexpected challenges.
* Market the activity – Keep your Corporate Wellness Program visible for Senior Management, line and medical personnel, Corporate Wellness Program members, and potential partners and volunteers.
* Collect and analyze outcomes – Outcomes indicate Corporate Wellness Program impact. Begin with just a few outcomes – you don’t have to collect everything. Remember that it’s never too late to start measuring Corporate Wellness Program impact.
* Assess, improve and re-evaluate – Use participant feedback and Corporate Wellness Program outcomes to determine Corporate Wellness Program impact. Identify areas in need of improvement. Use outcomes to determine if expended resources were worth the results.
