Manager support for wellness programs may improve efficacy

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 16:00

News - Corporate Wellness Programs

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Employee wellness programs that actively engage workers and provide incentives for participation have been shown to be more effective than those that simply provide information. Part of getting everyone on board is ensuring that managers and CEOs are supportive of initiatives for a healthier staff.

Demonstrating a need for a wellness program and emphasizing the return on investment that can be achieved through such an initiative may be an effective way to gain management support.

"The first test of leading a healthy company has to do with the CEO's level of care and concern for the organization’s employees," according to WELCOA, in its Capturing CEO Support report.

In a University of Georgia study, it was found that a wellness program that was engaging and supported by managing staff was significantly more effective than one that was purely informational, according to Workforce Management magazine.

In fact, the supervisor-supported initiative resulted in a 51 percent rate of participation, compared to 25 percent in the control group.

This suggests that providing managers and CEOs with information on the importance of reducing workplace stress may strengthen the efficacy of employee wellness programs targeted at anxiety and tension.