Determining a budget for establishing a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative

Beginning a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative need not be costly, but will require the commitment of some financial resources. If possible, include the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative in your employer’s annual business plan and budget as you do for other efforts important to your employer’s success.

How much to budget for the Workplace Wellness Program?

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for establishing a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative that results in enhanced employee health. Organizations differ in how much money they need and how much they can make available for the Workplace Wellness Program. Consider the following common expenses in developing an adequate Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative budget:

• Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative staffing costs (either internal salaries or consultant fees)
• Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative data collection costs (including health risk assessment costs, if relevant)
• Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative incentives for healthy behaviors (such as discounts on premiums for non-smokers)
• Costs of Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Strategies to be started (such as costs of covering tobacco quit medications or costs of subsidizing healthy foods in the cafeteria or vending machines)
• Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative administrative and communications expenses

In times of tight finances, be prepared to justify your requested Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative budget. Arm yourself with data on potential short- and long-term outcomes of the proposed Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Strategies. Itemize the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative expenses of past initiatives and share projected expenses for initiatives planned for the upcoming year.

Sustaining Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Financing

A dedicated Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative line item in your employer’s budget makes it more likely to be regarded as a need, rather than as a “nice-to-have” amenity that could be cut when funds run low.

One of the best Strategies for ensuring continued financial support for the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative is frequent communication to leadership, including:

• How many employees have you reached through the Workplace Wellness Program? Has morale improved? Have health risks decreased, e.g., fewer employees using tobacco, more employees active?
• How well are you managing the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative resources you’ve been given? Where and how has your budget been spent? Keep track of the staff time necessary for each initiative and be able to present the numbers at any time.
• Anecdotal Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative success stories from employees. Don’t underestimate the power of a good story to put a human face on your success.

Supplemental sources of Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Financing

If necessary, have the individuals accountable for establishing a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative look for ways to supplement available internal funds. Are there grants or other funding available that can help support your Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative ? What community Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative resources could you use to meet some of your needs?