Archive for July, 2009
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Keys to Success
To make a difference in the lives of your fellow employees, you first need to understand that getting active is not only a matter of choice. Some things are within our individual control, but others are shaped by the individuals and circumstances in which we live and work.
It’s Easier to Be Active When…
• We know [...]
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Types of Evaluation
The type of evaluation you choose is dependent upon when you do it and the kind of information you collect.
This section outlines when to use three types: formative, process and summative evaluations.
During the Planning Stage
Use formative evaluations in the planning stages to see that your program is based on solid information. These evaluations also help [...]
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Assessment Guide
What Do You Wish to Achieve?
Consider why you’re evaluating and what your evaluation is going to measure.
If you’re trying to discover whether plan has been efficacious, see if you stuck to your mission statement and met your goals.
If you don’t have a mission statement or goals, agree with senior staff and your employee Workplace Health [...]
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Creating an Action Plan
Prior to launching your Workplace Physical Activity Program, summarize the information you’ve gathered and plan your next steps.
At this point, you have
• gained reinforcement from management for the Workplace Physical Activity Program
• formed an Employee Wellness Program Committee
• assessed what is possible in your workplace
• found out what workers want and need in a Workplace [...]
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Employee Interest Survey
To succeed in encouraging physical activity during work, you must learn what staff members need and want. They are the individuals whose behavior you are trying to impact, so it’s important to know their needs and gain their backing.
The Employee Interest Survey
Ask staff members questions that allow you to assess such key characteristics as age, [...]
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Committees and Opportunities
Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Forming an Employee Committee
Although support from the top is critical to a successful program, support from other workers is also significant.
Once you get the go-ahead from management, identify others who are interested in the project and form a Workplace Wellness Program Committee to help determine the next steps. Depending on the [...]
Employer Wellness : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Gaining Senior Management Support
Gaining senior staff reinforcement is critical to the success of a physical exercise initiative.
Whether the changes you’d like to see involve the work environment, overall policies or specific programs, successfully implementing your ideas depends on management reinforcement.
Support from management is critical for three reasons:
• You need their support to involve workers in a workplace program.
• [...]
Employer Wellness : Worksite Wellness Programs: What Can Employers Do to Encourage Healthy Eating and Active Living for Workers?
In today’s organization environment, the health of staff members is often related to the health of the organization. Increased job satisfaction, improved morale, reduced illness and injuries, and increased work rate are just some of the advantages of having healthy staff members. Promoting health in your workplace need not be complicated, expensive or time-consuming. Any [...]
Employer Wellness : Employee Wellness Programs: Small vs. Big Business Options
Can a small organization support workplace wellness? Most certainly! In fact, in some ways it is easier to establish a healthy workplace in a small organization than in a big organization.
Limited resources, especially in small organizations, can prevent a organization from setting up a Employee Wellness Program. Reasons can include:
• lack of financial resources;
• lack [...]
Employer Wellness : What is a Worksite Wellness Program?
Workplace wellness is in the process of evolving.
Early efforts to establish healthy workplaces focused on safety at the workplace and injury prevention for employees.
More recently, programs are designed to assist employees to choose healthier behaviors like being more physically active or quitting smoking. Campaigns to raise awareness, educational sessions to expand knowledge, opportunities to [...]