Health Promotion : Employee Wellness Program -  Options Matter.

The menu approach offers workers a range of options to support lifestyle changes. It allows people  to select the kind of help that suits their schedules and preferences.

The four basic types of programs include -

• Classes

• Minigroups

• Guided self help

• Individual counseling

Corporate Health Promotion Program Classes

Courses (8 or more) can be an effective means of providing education and social support for behavior change. The length of a class can vary depending on topic requirements. It isn’t sufficient to offer only classes at a worksite .

A lot of employees are under time constraints with after work commitments and although they may be interested they simply cannot participate because of their schedules.

Employees may be very eager to start a program but because of lack of participants to meet class quotas, the program is canceled. Many national organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Weight Watchers, etc. offer classes; you should have little trouble in identifying a provider for class kind programs.

You could want to contact your local hospital, health department, or YMCA for possible choices . For picking  a provider to provide a program you could want to review the article on program structure.

Employee Wellness Program Minigroups

When there isn’t enough interest to create a class, those who are interested in a given health topic can be formed into a minigroup (2 to 7).

The minigroup can cover the same content as a class but do so in a less formal manner. Presentation of information and discussion is the major format of the minigroup.

Corporate Health Promotion Program - Guided Self-Help

Most staff members don’t want formal help in making health changes; they prefer to do it on their own. In guided self-help, the health counselors provide support, materials, and encouragement.

Meeting times can be arranged and contact can be made either in individuals , by phone, or computer. Materials can be made available at the workplace , or mailed to the individual. Some workplace s now make information available via intranets or the Internet.

Employee Wellness Program - Individual Counseling

Among the most successful ways to help people change and improve their health status is counseling (or coaching) on a one-on-one basis.

In published studies, Corporate Wellness Programs which incorporated individual counseling as part of the program process achieved significantly higher participation rates and achieved greater risk reduction/risk elimination than standard group programs. Studies have demonstrated that individual counseling is both cost effective and cost beneficial.

A wellness counselor should be trained in screening techniques, for in certain situations, they might be required to both screen individuals and counsel them. They ought to know how to do the following -  

• Review staff member health risks

• Contact workers who have health risks.

• Counsel workers on a one-on-one basis, assisting them set goals , solve problems, and get specialist help when they need it.

• Make certain to help workers follow their treatment recommendations and make lifestyle and health behavior changes.

• Recruit workers into health betterment programs, such as weight loss and smoking cessation.

• Work with employees on a one-on-one basis using guided self-help.

• Conduct classes and minigroups if necessary.

• Work with wellness committee members to plan and conduct worksite -wide wellness activities.

Wellness counselors are health generalists; they have to have basic knowledge about a wide range of health topics and health risks.

Counselors must be able to consult with employees about their medical problems and the treatments prescribed by their doctors. They should’ve a good overview of nutrition, exercise physiology, pathophysiology of disease , pharmacology, psychology, and behavior change skills.