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Well-being is the ability of individuals to address normal stresses, work productively, and realize one’s highest potential.1 Research shows that employees in good health are more likely to deliver optimal performance in the workplace.1,2,3 Healthy employees not only have better quality of life, they also benefit from having a lower risk of disease, illness, and injury, as well as increased work productivity and a greater likelihood of contributing to their communities.
Beyond helping workers uphold work-life balance and improve overall health, organizations are exploring additional wellness benefits such as recognition, paid time off, leadership training, and community volunteer projects that improve both well-being and overall engagement in the workplace.3
Employee Engagement in Workplace Wellness
Wellness program engagement is about more than just showing up at a health screening or other activity to receive an incentive or avoid a financial penalty. Although participation is necessary to be engaged, employees do have to be engaged to participate. Engagement involves creating and maintaining a sincere interest and involvement in living a healthy life—at home and at work. Workplace wellness programs are only as effective as the proportion of employees who are truly engaged in the program.
Although industry leaders and researchers vary in their definition of wellness program engagement, engagement is commonly viewed as the level of enrollment and sustained participation in a program. This includes:
- Wellness events (e.g., walking, nutrition, resilience programs).
- Services (e.g., screening, health coaching).
- Resources (e.g., online assessments, learning modules, training programs).
Active participation in these offerings results in employees making healthy decisions (e.g., choosing healthy foods, quitting tobacco, exercising regularly, managing stress). Engagement also includes employee input and involvement in the design and execution of the wellness program.
Achieving Wellness Program Engagement
According to the Gallup Organization, “Companies are most successful at creating a culture of well-being when they provide managers with the right tools for a holistic, multifaceted approach.”4
Organizations can develop a comprehensive culture of health and well-being for their employees. They can not only address individuals’ health risk factors, but also organizational factors such as:
- Relationship to the work environment.
- Training and leadership.
- Corporate values.
They can tailor program offerings to create value for participants and the organization. Surveys on needs and interests, interviews, and focus groups are good ways to understand what is important to employees. Employers also can learn what kind of rewards, from water bottles to gift cards, might be good incentives for employees to attend an event or take a survey. They also can gain insight into what might motivate employees to make changes for a healthier lifestyle.
Communication is key to successful employee engagement.5 Organizations can benefit from focus groups that provide information on the best methods and frequency of communication and marketing.6
Increasing program engagement requires different strategies to involve employees. Consider the following examples of ways to help employees participate and sustain involvement in workplace wellness while improving overall health.5-8
