Effective Workplace Health Promotion Program planning
Take the time to plan Workplace Health Promotion Programs before they are started.
Effective planning enables better use of all your resources. Include all the steps below when you plan a Wellness activity.
• Do your homework – Find the science and research that support your interventions. Look for similar Workplace Health Promotion Programs that already exist.
• Determine the specific health need(s) – Use these needs to target interventions to problems that are an issue for your population.
• Organize a team – A team is a resource multiplier. Network and build as many partnerships as you can.
• Make a plan, but don’t start completely from scratch. Make a written plan for your Workplace Health Promotion Program. Look for every opportunity to take advantage of resources that already exist. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
• Select a focus – Choose one or two main target areas for Workplace Health Promotion Programs. Address all five stages of change in the target areas rather than trying to hit every possible Wellness topic.
• Determine your resources – What assets do you have? What assets will you need? How can you fill the gaps?
• Get Upper Management support – Think like Upper Management. Communicate the value of Wellness from Upper Management’s perspective.
• Begin the activity- Be flexible. Be prepared for unexpected challenges.
• Market the activity – Keep your Workplace Health Promotion Program visible for Upper Management, line and medical personnel, Workplace Health Promotion Program members, and potential partners and volunteers.
• Collect and analyze outcomes – Outcomes indicate Workplace Health Promotion Program impact. Begin with just a few outcomes – you don’t have to collect everything. Remember that it’s never too late to start measuring Workplace Health Promotion Program impact.
• Evaluate, improve and re-evaluate – Use participant feedback and Workplace Health Promotion Program outcomes to determine Workplace Health Promotion Program impact. Identify areas in need of improvement. Use outcomes to determine if expended resources were worth the results.
