Happy engagement

Betsy Nota-Kirby of Lifesynch explains how to make employee engagement and wellness program implementation work hand-in-hand.

The Question: We recently implemented a workplace wellness program in an effort to help our employees get healthier, and in turn, lower healthcare costs for them and for the company, but employees just don't seem interested. How do we get employees engaged so our program will be a success?

The Answer: Companies of all sizes are turning to workplace wellness programs to increase the health and productivity of their employees, but the actual success of these programs hinges on the ability to engage associates. The initial thought is that if you offer employees an array of health and wellness programs for free or significantly discounted rates, they'll jump at the opportunity to participate. But, as you've most likely learnt, this isn't the case.

The biggest challenge is that every individual has his or her own way they would like to engage in a wellness program, and the motivation to achieve health goals is going to be different from person to person. But whether you have 50 employees or 5000 employees, identifying those individual motivations typically isn't the kind of thing a company can do on its own.

One method increasing in popularity that helps identify those motivations and engage participants is personalized health coaching. A personal health coach can work with employees on a one-on-one basis to help them set their health goals, lay out an action plan to reach those goals and achieve sustainable behavior change for a healthier future.

A successful health coaching program offers interactive options to best fit each individual's lifestyle, be it over the phone, via e-mail or online chat, or through a web portal, but the key is that it's personalized. A coach can direct employees to the right tools, cheer them on when they succeed and support them when they lapse. Plus, personal health coaches can work with employees on multiple goals instead of the employee having to do one program for smoking cessation and a separate program for weight loss.

So far, we've found that 70 percent of people who enroll in personal health coaching actually engage with their coach, and 60 percent of people who enroll achieve one or more of their health-related goals. Also, a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed smokers who used telephonic coaching in addition to a web program had nearly double the quit rate of those who only used the web-based program.

In addition to enabling personalization of your wellness programs, there are several other things you can do to increase participation and success. For the most part, a large number of associates will be motivated by rewards, especially when it takes the form of financial incentives. For example, employees can earn reduced health insurance premiums, accumulate points that can be used to select prizes, or be entered into drawings for cash prizes or gift cards for participation in the programs. Just be sure the reward levels are realistically attainable, otherwise it could have the opposite effect and discourage participation.

Another important aspect to a successful workplace wellness program that is often overlooked is creating a supportive work environment. You should have healthy options in your cafeteria and vending machines to encourage healthy eating habits. Also, having an on-site fitness center is a huge bonus, but it's not always feasible, so try to offer discounts to area gyms or exercise classes.

And don't forget that the work environment often starts with the company leadership, so ensure executives recognize the importance of such programs. Our leaders have more influence than they realize on participation in wellness programs, so executives and managers should be openly supportive of these programs and will hopefully participate alongside their associates.

Finally, make your program fun. Encourage friendly challenges between departments or develop employee-led wellness groups for those interested in certain sports or activities. As you know, if you're having fun, it doesn't feel like a chore.

About

Betsy Nota-Kirby, wellness director at LifeSynch, a Humana company, has 25 years of experience in health management and wellness, focused on strategy, program design and operations. She holds a bachelor's in exercise science from Eastern Michigan University and a master's in kinesiology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.