Strategic Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative planning

Take the time to plan Workplace Wellness Programs before they are started.

Strategic 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 Wellness 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 Wellness 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 Wellness 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 Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative visible for Upper Management, line and medical personnel, Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative participants, and potential partners and volunteers.
• Collect and analyze outcomes – Outcomes indicate Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative impact. Begin with just a few outcomes – you don’t have to collect everything. Remember that it’s never too late to start measuring Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative impact.
• Evaluate, improve and re-evaluate – Use participant feedback and Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative outcomes to determine Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative impact. Establish areas in need of improvement. Use outcomes to determine if expended resources were worth the results.