Employer Wellness

Before you start planning your Wellness Program you need to know where you’re now and then decide where you want to go.  Completing a thorough needs assessment is critical to the success of your wellness program for two reasons –  

• First it ensures that your program activities will be targeted to meet your corporation’s specific needs so that outcomes can be achieved.  

• Secondly the needs assessment provides the information you’ll need to evaluate the effectiveness of your wellness program.

It’s often tempting to rush the assessment – particularly when time is limited or those with experience already have an idea of needs.  Do not give in to this temptation!  

It’s vital to understand what your corporation needs are, what management expects, and what staff members want in addition to expect, before you develop a program.  

Consider and gather data on –

• Demographic Information

• Health Risk Factors

• Medical Claims

• Injury Rates and Causes

• Workers’ Compensation Claims

• Short and Long Term Disability Claims

• Absenteeism

• Culture Audits

• Worker perceived needs and health risks

• Management expectations or desired outcomes

There are many ways to assess this information.  Although some of data gathering process might  be time eating, remember that it is nevertheless essential to plan programs that target specific issues.  

This information will be vital to set goals and for investigating  program success.  How else can you know when outcomes have been achieved?

Options to help gather the wellness program information –

• Confidential Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal}s with a Company Group Summary Report click here for additional information on Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal}s or Assessments

• Medical Testings such as cholesterol, blood pressure (BP) and blood sugar click here for more information on medical testings.

• Worker Needs and Interest Surveys

• Suggestion boxes placed around the organization

• Focus Groups or hosting a luncheon meeting as a focus group

• Sending out a confidential email questionnaire

• Review records and databases including OSHA logs, first aid reports, insurance costs  

Once your needs assessment is complete, the Wellness Committee can review the results and begin planning and prioritizing program choices.  

Planning ought to be based on objectives and identified outcomes, Step 4 of the seven step process!