Workplace Wellness Programs: Incentive and Rewards

Workplace Wellness Programs – Staff Engagement Strategies 

Workplace Wellness Programs without staff engagement are useless to a organization. How do you get staff members to enroll in Workplace Wellness Programs – and stay engaged in the programs? 

The handouts for these programs discuss the benefits to staff members and businesses. Workplace Wellness Program statistics show that there are tangible benefits to a organization for offering such programs. Workplace Wellness Programs actually do save lives by getting workers to take their health seriously, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and more. 

However, St. Louis, Missouri-based Maritz Inc., the world’s largest incentive organization, has applied their own invigorating twist to health management by offering gift rewards to staff members who participate in Workplace Wellness Programs. The wellness reward program is Maritz’s own Exclusively Yours® plan. Health management participants earn points, which can be then redeemed for merchandise, electronics, restaurant vouchers and travel, much like a frequent-flier program. 

Enrollment rewards in Workplace Wellness Programs? 

Undoubtably businesses that don’t work in the rewards industry will be tempted to cry foul about using such a rich carrot to incentivize health program enrollments. Not every organization can throw that kind of money at health management resources – and not every organization has the built-in cost savings as a business that specializes in offering reward programs. 

For certain rich rewards like Maritz’s will break through the glaze that appears over many staff members’ eyes when they’re encouraged to do something new, different or challenging. For many staff members uncomfortable with health management and exercise, “new, different and challenging” would apply to Workplace Wellness Programs. So where does that leave businesses who are unwilling or unable to offer rewards for health management program enrollment? 

Successful Workplace Wellness Programs motivate staff members – before and after signup 

Workplace Wellness Program administrators should keep the long-term view in mind when trying to get staff members to take that vitally important first step. Even the best rewards can fail in the face of faltering organization, badly-designed Workplace Wellness Programs and wavering support. Make sure to run good Wellness surveys before you build your Workplace Wellness Programs so worker input and needs are being met by your Workplace Wellness Programs. The goal is positive outcomes, not high enrollment numbers. 

Workplace Wellness Programs cannot survive managerial apathy. If executive and managerial participation is widespread and heartfelt, staff members will follow their leadership. The potential rewards and Wellness benefits are clearly worth reaping, for both your business and your co-workers.