Want to Motivate Employees to Participate in Your Wellness Program?
Many health-conscious employers know the frustration of developing a great health and wellness program for employees that failed to gain their participation. In fact, studies indicate less than one in four employees take advantage of the wellness programs provided to them by their employers. The good news is there are a number of strategies available to encourage reluctant employees to participate in company wellness programs.
Create Teams
A dose of teamwork and a little healthy competition may be all that is needed to inspire employees to join a company wellness program. Forming teams of employees that take part in a friendly competition will provide a scenario where employees encourage each other during rough spots and celebrate together with each goal that is achieved.
Once a few employees with influence among their peers are onboard with a team, the participation in your company wellness program is likely to increase dramatically.
Provide Rewards
You may want to try motivating employees by offering different types of rewards is a great way to encourage employees to take part in a wellness program. The rewards that can be offered to employees are numerous and are only limited to the imagination of the employer.
Reward systems are powerful motivators because the human brain is wired to respond positively to rewards. When a reward is attained, whether in the form of a material object, a wonderful experience, or praise from peers and supervisors, the brain produces more of the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter dopamine. This dopamine release will keep employees engaged in the wellness program.
Remove Barriers
There could be a number of obstacles in the path of an employee who would otherwise take part in a health and wellness program. Some possible obstacles are a lack of healthy foods close enough to the workplace to enjoy during a lunch break or the perception by the employee that his or her job is already too busy to add a wellness program their schedule.
Employers would do well to identify all procedural, structural, geographical, or perceptual obstacles that might discourage employee participation in a company health and wellness program.
Many employers now realize the importance of promoting health and wellness for employees. However, it can at times be a challenge to encourage employees to participate in wellness programs. Fortunately, there are a number of great ways to encourage your employees to take an active role in securing their own health and wellness.
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- On March 12, 2019
