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5 Tips to Creating a More Engaging Employee Wellness Strategy 

06.30.21 10:32 AM By Motion Connected

Meeting your employees where they are – this is the goal of any successful wellness program.  


But what does this really mean? 


And, as wellness professionals, how can we best meet employee needs with a diverse group of participants? 


Here are five tips: 


1. Appeal to the masses: population health management 

Consider several high-impact behaviors that can impact an individual’s health:  

  • Consistent physical activity 

  • Consistent sleep  

  • Being properly hydrated 

  • Eating to nourish the body 

Everyone can take away a tidbit of information from these, and other high-impact behaviors that could improve their health and well-being.  Apply these behaviors to your organization’s population and develop messaging or programs to highlight each. 



2. Create approachable, easy to digest, appealing wellness content


Even though it is advantageous to appeal to the masses, it is also beneficial to segment your  population and develop a strategy to communicate with each. 


Programs need to consider employee demographics, in combination with inclusion efforts, to build a culture of health and wellbeing for all.  A few demographics you could use to segment your population: 

  • Age 

  • Ethnicity 

  • Length of service 

  • Type of employee: full-time, part-time, in-office, off-site, remote 

  • Participating spouse/partners  

  • Department or location 

  • Employee Resource Groups (or ERG’s) = link to blog 

3. Make it easy

When possible, bring programs and resources directly to participants.  

This could include on-site fruit or healthy snack delivery, access to a health coach or trainer, becoming a CSA drop-site or recording webinars/learning sessions so that participants can view the information when they have time, regardless of location.

Provide gentle reminders of wellness program initiatives, upcoming challenges or programs and incentives to participate in your communications. On average, individuals need to see messages seven or more times to digest and retain the information.  

Diversify your communication efforts and include key need-to-know messages at the end of regular emails, in a newsletter, company message board or even posted in unexpected places. 

4. Consistency is key

One and done programs lack strategy and lead to poor engagement.  


It is beneficial to create quarterly or annual themes, with programs and challenges that fit, to have a cohesive, strategic program that promotes a culture of health.  Participants will stay more engaged in your wellness program initiatives and look forward to what is coming next. 


Map out your year, then scale back to a quarterly plan and set a timeline, to deliver effective programming that supports the mission of your program. 


5. Have realistic expectations 


This may be the most important component to remember. It truly takes time to see program success. 


It takes time to change behaviors, it takes time to see the impact of your efforts.  You probably won’t reach all participants, and there may be some grumbling along the way, but continue those baby steps forward and continue to strive to build a culture of health. Set your program goals, analyze metrics, celebrate the wins, and keep at it.  


“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Motion Connected

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