Getting Started

Although a comprehensive wellness program should be the goal, most employers start out small and build the program along the way.  Comprehensive programs require more resources but also provide more benefit. 

Wellness programs will vary from business to business based on the needs of both the employees and the company.  This Worksite Wellness Toolkit can help you get a program started at your worksite. You will need Acrobat Reader to view this document.  Download Acrobat Reader for free.

Strategies for Success

MEDSTAT and the American Productivity and Quality Center identified the following effective strategies of successful programs:

• Health promotion and productivity programs are aligned with business strategies
• A leader or champion is present for the program
• Team members are enthusiastic about developing and championing the health and productivity program
• Senior management buy into the program, with appropriate resources allocated
• Business operations managers are key members of the team
• Wellness and health promotion staff members are heavily involved, supporting a healthy company culture
• Research and outcomes projects are set up to demonstrate the link between productivity and health
• A corporate consensus exists that improving the quality of work life will improve productivity and cost savings will result.

There are many small steps you can take that are simple to implement but lead to significant change. Here are a few quick ways to get started.