5 ways to engage manual laborers in wellness
Published May 27, 2014 9:52 AM
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Updated May 27, 2014 3:24 PM
1 Min Read
Overview
Engaging an employers manual labor employees in a wellness program can be challenging, because, according to Ann Wyatt of the Minneapolis, Minn.-based wellness company HealthFitness, they tend to have limited access and comfort with technology and a wide range of education levels. As a result, she says, benefit advisers and employers have to be creative when marketing and incentivizing a wellness program. [Images: Thinkstock]
1. Give pocket-size tips
To give manual laborers quick information in a format that workers can easily take with them, Wyatt suggests handing out small, pocket-sized flyers to promote the wellness program and any upcoming challenges.
2. Try gate crashing
Wyatt suggests meeting manual laborers at their worksites, via gate crashing. For example, HealthFitness staff greets employees of a large chemical manufacturing company at the plants gate during shift changes. During that face-to-face time, they hand out program information, fruit snacks and other incentives to promote current and upcoming wellness programs.
3. Capture them on candid camera
Making manual laborers feel a part of the larger companys culture of health can encourage participation in company wellness events and programs. Wyatt suggests one creative way to do so is to candidly videotape employees reactions when told at the lunchroom checkout that their fruit is free courtesy of the wellness program. The video can be edited into a montage and shared across the company.
4. Simplify tasks
Wellness programs that ask employees to track exercise or food choices can be simplified to minimize language, time and technology barriers by, for instance, asking participants to circle images of foods eaten, instead of writing them down.
5. Give hit and run prizes
Visiting the employee cafeteria and randomly giving out prizes can raise awareness of the wellness program and help advisers and employers connect one-on-one with employees as a way to encourage them to participate in the program or use an on-site fitness center, Wyatt says.
