10 ways to jumpstart a wellness program

Whether they’re used to decrease health care costs or increase productivity and engagement, wellness programs are becoming an increasingly important aspect of employers’ benefits strategies. Speaking at EBN’s annual Benefits Forum & Expo in Orlando, Fla., Ann Wyatt, regional vice president with HealthFitness and Kimberly Shotwell, health & wellness services efficiency manager at Mars, Inc., shared ways employers can help create an engaging and successful wellness program.

A wellness program has to begin somewhere, and it’s important to understand what you know about your employees, and how they know you, Wyatt says. Mars, Inc., for example, first focused on blood pressure management, since it was something “everyone can relate to” and data was easy to obtain, says Shotwell.