Wellness Program Basics - Celebrate Success

At the center of any wellness program is the desire to positively impact the health of individuals and create a healthier workforce. Many of the more chronic diseases that people deal with have direct correlations to lifestyle choices that could be modified or corrected. In fact,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80 percent of diabetes cases, 40 percent of cancer cases, and 80 percent of heart disease and stroke cases could be prevented if Americans would do three things:

1. Quit Smoking
2. Develop Healthy Eating Habits
3. Get In Shape

A successful wellness program that addresses these lifestyle issues involves communication, education, engagement, encouragement, and celebration. These things do not have to be expensive and certainly should not be impersonal. The best results come from people supporting and cheerleading each other.

Celebrating Quitters and Losers

Quitting smoking and losing weight are among the most sought after — and the most difficult — health goals people strive for. So when your employees reach these goals, why not celebrate their achievements? Studies show that rewarding healthy behavior helps encourage people to maintain good health and helps prevent them from slipping back into unhealthy lifestyle habits. But the type of reward makes a difference. A recent study of 2,407 overweight and obese people showed that cash incentives are not effective in promoting weight loss in worksite wellness programs. Thankfully, there are many other ways to celebrate and encourage success.

Rewarding Healthy Behavior

Offer congratulations. When you hear of an employee who has reached a healthy milestone, such as quitting smoking or lowering his or her cholesterol level, blood pressure or weight, congratulate him or her privately. Find out if it’s OK to announce the success openly so that others can share in the enthusiasm.

Gift cards. Gift certificates to bookstores, restaurants, department stores and online music services are always appreciated, and you can vary the amount according to the magnitude of the milestone reached.

Time off. A day off or even a half-day Friday will put a smile on anyone’s face — and offer a great incentive to others.

Professional reward. Offer professional advancement. Send the employee to a trade show (all expenses paid), pay for an evening class or send the person to a seminar that he or she has wanted to take. Adjust schedules so that the employee’s work is covered and the person can truly enjoy the reward.

Shared celebration. Let everyone benefit from each person’s success. Bring in bagels with low-fat cream cheese and 100 percent juice one morning in honor of the person or people who have achieved their goals. Healthy behavior has its own rewards in the form of feeling better, looking better and having more energy to enjoy life. But you can sweeten the taste of success and encourage employees to create a more health-conscious culture overall.

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