Wellness Program Incentives

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

The four basic types of programs include:
• Classes
• Minigroups
• Guided self help
• Individual counseling

Classes

Classes (8 or more) can be an effective means of providing education and social support for behavior modification. The length of a class can vary depending on topic requirements. It is not sufficient to offer only classes at a workplace.

Many staff members are under time constraints with after work commitments and although they may be interested they simply cannot participate because of their schedules.

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

You may want to contact your local hospital, health department, or YMCA for possible options. For selecting a vendor to provide a program you may want to review the section on program structure.

Minigroups

When there is not enough interest to establish 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.

Guided Self-Help

Most employees do not want formal help in making health changes; they prefer to do it on their own. In guided self-help, the wellness counselors provide backing, materials, and encouragement.

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

Individual Counseling

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

In published studies, 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. Research studies have established that individual counseling is both cost effective and cost advantageous.

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

• Review employee health risks
• Contact staff members who have health risks.
• Counsel workers on a one-on-one basis, helping them set goals, solve concerns, and get expert help when they need it.
• Help workers follow their treatment recommendations and make lifestyle and health behavior changes.
• Recruit workers into health improvement programs, such as weight loss and tobacco cessation.
• Work with workers on a one-on-one basis using guided self-help.
• Conduct classes and minigroups if necessary.
• Work with Company Health Promotion Program Committee participants to plan and conduct worksite-wide wellness activities.

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

Counselors must be able to talk with workers about their health care issues and the treatments prescribed by their doctors. They ought to have a good overview of nutrition, exercise physiology, pathophysiology of disease, pharmacology, psychology, and behavior change skills.