Monday, February 06, 2012

Five Ways to Pump Up Your Wellness Communications

When we partner with companies to provide wellness solutions, we often get asked the same question: What is the best way to communicate our wellness events to employees? While each organization’s culture is a little bit different, there are a few things that seem to work best:

Survey.
Ask your employees which way they would prefer to receive information about the wellness program. Is it on the Intranet? Face-to-Face or print materials? Just ask them.

Connect the dots.
Clearly explain how the wellness program is connected to the company’s overall strategy. Messages about the wellness program are best received when they come from the organization’s leaders. The wellness program shouldn't be just an "HR program" – it must be an intrinsic part of the organization’s culture.

Keep it simple.
Medical terms can be overwhelming and scary to many people. Wellness programs need to be communicated in a way that makes sense. Use visuals and bullet points, graphics, charts, and FAQs.

Focus on confidentiality and privacy.
Continually reassure employees that their privacy will be protected and the results of any wellness program tests will be kept absolutely confidential.

Communicate frequently.
Ongoing communication with employees is key to building understanding and influencing behavior.