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Assess the Needs and Interests
Businesses of all sizes will want to address the following questions:
- Are managers willing to participate and encourage others to do so?
- What do they see as the benefits of the program for employees and the organization?
- What kinds of activities are they willing to allow?
- What is the level of employee interest in various types of health promotion activities, the most convenient times and places to schedule activities, and/or suggested organizational changes to promote a more healthful work environment?
Types of Assessments and Sources
Different assessment tools can provide different types of important information. Therefore, a worksite wellness program may benefit most from using each of the following types of assessments.
Worksite Wellness Individual Interest Survey
Since worksite wellness programs are for employees, it's a good idea to find out from them what approaches have the greatest chance of success. A simple survey made up of 10 or 12 questions can provide valuable information. For example:
- Discover how employees want to receive program information (e.g. electronically, strategically-placed bulletin boards, memos, etc.).
- What health components (nutrition, physical activity, tobacco) are they most interested in addressing and how?
- What types of groups might employees be most inclined to join (e.g. walking, yoga, cooking, biking, weight-loss, dance, martial arts, nutrition, etc.)?
- Which employees have expertise that may be useful to the program?
Check out the sample Employee Interest Survey
Organizational Health Survey
The organizational surveys are geared to obtain information on your organization's environmental indicators from both managers and the general workforce. The surveys are comprised of questions that reveal the extent to which opportunities exist in the workplace to pursue and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A sample organizational health survey is available here.
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
The health risk assessment is central to health promotion programs. It can help companies of all sizes identify their workforce's problems and establish targets for improvement. Using the HRA, you can discover risk levels, determine appropriate interventions and measure results. Assessments help employees manage their health care and allow companies to control their health care costs. Tools that can accurately measure risk levels and that can proactively channel individuals to appropriate, cost-effective interventions are invaluable.
Assessment Sources
The following are just a few resources for finding additional assessment tools:
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