Communication — including workplace wellness program communication — is the exchange of thoughts, information, and/or messages between people. The key word being exchange. If it’s not a back-and-forth, two-way discussion, it’s one-way lecturing, and who appreciates a lecture?
Smart organizations ask employees for their wellness program questions and comments, and invite employees to participate in the process for creating upcoming wellness content.
These companies understand that for their workplace wellness programs to be effective, they need to be relevant. The best way to give employees what they want and need is to simply ask. On the flip side, by dwelling only on the organization’s goals and not even asking about employees’ goals leads to alienation and disengagement, which is not what any company wants for its wellness program.
To open the dialogue with employees, find out:
- What captures your employees’ attention? What health and wellness topics will resonate with most employees? We suggest considering gathering this valuable info through use of a survey, poll, or quick focus group. Don’t forget to find out how each demographic subgroup prefers to receive workplace communication — newsletters, posters, e-mails, etc. Suggestion: hold a 30-minute roundtable open discussion with a group of trusted employees to learn more about what kinds of information (and delivery methods) employees would find most useful.
And it’s also important to:
- Plan a way to report back to employees (meeting, posted results online, other media channels), to show that your organization is accountable and responsive.
WE WANT YOUR INPUT!
We want to know what health and wellness topics you would like us to provide in our materials. Please give us your thoughts to help us ensure we are delivering the content you want and need. As a thank you, we’ll send you our Communications Planning Guide. This useful guide includes ideas, tables and tips for your own successful communications. Thanks for your help — it’s appreciated!
