There are two ways employers can ensure participation in worksite wellness programs.
First, communication is important, says Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin, founder and CEO of Tribe, Inc.
"There has to be a dedicated communication strategy. If employees don't know about the program they won't come," she says.
Second, incentives and promotions help to boost employee engagement in the worksite.
"People love a contest and they love recognition for achieving wellness goals," says Baskin.
There are many different ways employers can make a wellness program interesting and give motivation to participants.
These include hosting a charitable fundraising event, having employees collect miles walked on a treadmill, or implementing buddy programs, where employees with similar goals are paired together to work toward a mutual goal.
The most exciting wellness program trend right now is gamification, says Baskin, and using a game is becoming increasingly popular for employee benefit issues across the board.
"For wellness [programs] it's really cool because employees can collect points for various achievements," she says. "They can track their day-to-day progress as well as compete with each other."
