2. Benchmarks for successful wellness programs
1• Senior leadership support
2• Operating plan
3• Measurable health improvement
4• Demonstrable ROI
5• Peer encouragement and support
6• Critical mass
7• Participant satisfaction
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3. 1. Senior Leadership Support
• Support of CEO or
respected community
leaders demonstrates that
wellness is a priority
• Leaders help set the vision
and serve as role models
• Aids in creating a culture of
wellness from the top down
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4. 2. Operating Plan
• Determine and set
program goals
• Align with company
objectives
• Increase transparency
and success metrics
4
5. 3. Measurable Health Improvement
• Metrics tend to focus on direct costs, e.g.
health, disability, prescription drug, and
workers' compensation claims, along with
initial and ongoing investment
• But how can we better quantify benefits
to health?
• BMI
• Prevention of disease and
serious illness
• Absenteeism
• Presenteeism
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6. 4. Demonstrable ROI
• Demonstrable ROI for wellness
programs provides support for
continuing and increasing
program investment
• Body of evidence showing ROI
of employee wellness programs
between $2-$3 for every dollar
spent
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7. 5. Peer Encouragement and Support
• Social networks influence health
behavior change. When we work
together with the people in our social
network, we’re more likely to achieve
our health goals.
http://www.shapeup.com/PDFs/Study-
Social-Influence-Affects-Weight.pdf
• Peers know each other best. Enable
them to personalize wellness so they
can engage, encourage, and support
each other.
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8. 6. Critical Mass
• Provide a variety of options and ways in which
individuals can participate.
• Increase viral spread of program by facilitating peer
invitations and team formation around common goals.
• It can take time to achieve critical mass. Brand program,
and continue to enhance year after year.
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9. 7. Participant Satisfaction
• Regularly survey participants
about satisfaction with various
aspects of the program
• Ask for suggestions for future
programs and program
enhancements
• Make results available to all
involved
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10. Additional Information
• Wellness Council of America’s Seven Benchmarks
http://www.welcoa.org/wellworkplace/index.php
• Management Support for Worksite Wellness
https://www.ndworksitewellness.org/getstarted/management-support.htm
• Building a Stronger Evidence Base for Employee Wellness Programs
http://www.nihcm.org/pdf/Wellness%20FINAL%20electonic%20version.pdf
• Employers Fail at Measuring Wellness Program ROI
http://www.benefitspro.com/2012/05/04/employers-fail-at-measuring-
wellness-program-roi
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