As with any health promotion program, the two critical elements for the success of your health promotion program are upper management support and worker involvement. Upper-level management sets the vision and provides the resources from which action plans flow.  

Genuine support from executive management also lends credibility to the wellness program. It’s key that executive management be visible supporters and role models for your Health Promotion Program.

Employees need to be involved on a few levels so that they feel ownership of the health promotion program. Employees are the health promotion program stakeholders!  

All workers should’ve an opportunity to provide input and feedback through needs and interest surveys and health promotion program examination tools.  The information collected must be used to plan health promotion programs that target those needs and interests to ensure participation, buy-in, and support.

There are several methods to identify staff member needs and interests such as –

• Conducting Staff Member Focus Groups

• Discussing Health Promotion Interests During Department Meetings

• Distributing and Summarizing a Needs and Interest Survey

• Including an Opportunity to Provide Suggestions on Each Examination Tool  

Any one or combination of several techniques will ensure that the health promotion program meets what workforce want.  Click here for a sample Needs and Interest Survey.

Step 3 provides additional information on determining wellness program needs.  But first, establishing a Wellness Committee can help you involve senior level management and staff, determine need, and plan your wellness program.