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Employee Buy-in

Implementing worksite wellness programs and policies can be challenging. It's important to make employees aware that the program exists, get them to participate, and motivate them to stay involved. Although getting employee buy-in can be difficult, it is not impossible. Here are a few ways to build employee excitement and interest:

Management Support | Pledge Sheet | Newsletters | Guest Speakers | Incentives

Management Support: Management and supervisor support of your wellness program is crucial. Having support demonstrates to employees the commitment of management towards health and wellness, which can boost employee morale by blurring the line between “us” and “them.” Management support will also determine whether the program will ultimately succeed. Types of support can include:

• Communicating support of policies and programs to employees verbally.
• Taking part in the wellness programs.
• Providing work time for wellness programs.
• Implementing policy and procedure changes.
• Allocating funds for staffing, purchasing equipment, vendor services, supplies, and incentives (PDF: !kB).

Pledge Sheet: Invite employees (management and staff) to sign a pledge sheet acknowledging their decision to focus on creating changes in their lives that benefit health and wellness.

Sample: Employer Pledge Sheet (PDF: 53kB)
Sample: Employee Pledge Sheet (PDF: 74kB)

Newsletters: Distribute newsletters, memos or articles to employees. Be sure to use science-based health information that describes or represents the wellness philosophy of your organization. Distribution of health information is a great way to let your employees know that the worksite wellness programs you offer can assist them in improving their health.

Resource: Wellness Councils of America provides regular health updates that may provide some useful health information for your employees.

Guest Speakers: Bring in a guest speaker from a well-recognized health organization to kick-off or introduce your worksite wellness program and get people excited!

Resource: Northern California Center for Well-Being
Resource: St. Joseph's Health - Workforce Health Initiative
Resource: Kaiser Permanente (members only)

Incentives: Offer incentives to boost morale and keep employees motivated to participate in your worksite wellness program. The following are examples of possible incentives:

• Provide subsidized health club memberships or discounts to local gyms.
• Offer an annual cash reimbursement for wellness programs they participate in (i.e. $100 reimbursed for gym membership, yoga classes, Weight Watchers, etc.).
• Offer gifts - such as t-shirts, water bottles, golf equipment, etc. - to those who participate in wellness programs.
• Offer employees the chance to be put in a drawing to win a vacation or prize.
• Offer coupons for fruits and vegetables as reward for work well done.
• More examples (PDF: 136kB)