Employer Wellness

Brown bag presentations are a good way to establish awareness about selected health topics. Community health professionals will often offer presentations of a half hour or less at no charge. Use employee interest surveys to follow up on employee interests that are expressed. The definition of health is broad, so brown bag presentations may also cover a wide variety of topics. Topics may include physical, mental, emotional, women’s health, men’s health, financial health, etc.

Considerations for brown bag presentations:
• Brown bag sessions are useful for awareness building. This seed planting process can help employees become more proactive about healthy choices.
• Don’t schedule the program for the full hour – usually 40 minutes or so works best. This will allow folks a chance to come and go, grab a quick bite, ask questions, etc.
• If the subject matter is of a sensitive nature, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, etc., people may be reluctant to attend for fear of being associated publicly with the issue. They will, however, show up if the focus is on assisting family members, coworkers, etc.
• Be sure that workers hear significant information and will leave with tools and resources to carry out the message. Work with the presenter on information strategies that work for your employee group.
• Promotional materials must publicize the program with a name that indicates the brown bag focus. Include all other pertinent information such as where, who, when, etc.
• Some topics that can’t be covered in one session should be offered in a short series. It will work best to schedule one session each week instead of several sessions in one week. By way of example, you might offer a 3-week series on healthy eating instead of trying to cram all the information into one session.
• A catchy title can draw people to the event. An example of this would be calling lunchtime presentations “Noonlighting”
• If possible, provide a no cost healthy snack for staff members who attend.
• To maintain momentum, try setting up a routine monthly time and day for lunchtime seminars.
• If workers work in shift or are in work groups in different geographical locations, come up with a plan that offers equal attendance opportunity to all.

Resources:

1. Please see the idea list at the end of this guide which offers a variety of resource issues of interest to workers.
2. Every neighborhood has a myriad of people, experts, or specialists from voluntary groups (heart, cancer, lung associations), special interest groups (Y’s, Red Cross, Weight Watcher’s, Safety Council, Alcoholics Anonymous), or the local health department as options to lead workplace sessions at no cost or at a low cost. Many of these contacts might also support inexpensive materials.
3. Topic videos can be used for a brown bag session.