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Incentives always seem to do the trick when increasing participation in your onsite wellness program. The saying, “feed them and they will come” applies here! But it helps to be giving your employees the types of incentives that will truly motivate them to participate. And the best way to find that out is to ask them. Is it money, time off, casual days, t-shirts, etc? But don’t think that incentive prizes have to break your budget. One idea is to give your employees a “chance” at winning a prize if they participate. For example, all employees that attend at least 3 out of the 4 stress management classes will get their name put in a drawing for 2 movie passes to the local theater. 

Plain and simple, you can’t change what you can’t measure. And when it comes to containing healthcare costs and improving employee health, a health risk assessment is one of the most critical components in the entire health management process. Not only does each individual that completes the assessment receive a personalized and confidential summary of his or her current health status, but the organization receives a comprehensive aggregate report – the Group Health Profile. BCBSNE offers Wellstream, a health risk assessment that incorporates an individual’s personal health information, family health history, and general health status. In addition to the health risk factors, Wellstream incorporates a Corporate Health Culture Assessment and an employee Knowledge and Interest inventory. The Wellstream aggregate Group Health Profile report includes information on demographics, health risk factors, health conditions, absenteeism, readiness to change and specific organizational recommendations. An expert from BCBSNE’s wellness team will go through the aggregate report with you and discuss wellness programming opportunities.  

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE), we believe that each employer group is unique. Each group has different health risks, knowledge and interests, and work culture – not to mention a varying budget to dedicate to workplace wellness. Therefore, a “one-size fits all” approach to wellness will not yield the optimal results for each employer. The BlueHealth Advantage program is not a pre-packaged, expensive, and inflexible wellness solution. Since you have your own unique set of needs, we’d like to consult with you and give you the tools to help you identify and address them in a manner that best fits your culture. We are positioned to assist you in the health and wellness arena because BCBSNE has successfully implemented its own internal wellness program and we have first-hand knowledge of how to develop a positive, results-oriented work environment. In fact, BCBSNE earned the Platinum Well Workplace Award from the Wellness Council of America – proof that we have successfully linked workplace health promotion objectives with business outcomes.

The Know Your Numbers campaign is designed to encourage members to track their key numbers when it comes to blood pressure, good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI). When individuals know these numbers, and compare them to recommended levels, individuals can work to modify these numbers through lifestyle changes and/or medical intervention to meet targeted goals. This campaign can support individuals as well as be sponsored by an employer at the worksite. Support materials include educational materials, promotional posters, payroll stuffers, and wallet cards to try the numbers. The program would work optimally in conjunction with an onsite health screening where employees can obtain all the numbers at one time. 

There are two types of wellness programs that can be implemented at the workplace, “activity-oriented” or “results-oriented.” If you choose the first, you will be implementing a program based primarily on activities and executing those that “feel” right for your workforce. This is usually known as the “activity of the month” method. The later, “results-oriented” program is based upon carefully collected data, well-thought out design and seamless execution. The focus of this approach is to impact your company’s bottom-line by improving employee health risks and increasing productivity. Although there is no single approach to wellness that will work at every worksite, there is a series of benchmarks inherent in programs that are results-oriented. These “Seven Benchmarks to a Well Workplace” were developed by the Wellness Council of America; an Omaha based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthier lifestyles for all Americans – especially through wellness initiatives at the worksite.

The “Seven Benchmarks to a Well Workplace”

1. Capturing CEO Support
2. Creating Cohesive Wellness Teams
3. Collecting Data to Drive Health Efforts
4. Carefully Crafting an Operating Plan
5. Choosing Appropriate Interventions
6. Creating A Supportive Environment
7. Carefully Evaluating Outcomes

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s BlueHealth Advantage program aligns with this process by helping you and your wellness team collect baseline data, choose appropriate interventions and evaluate outcomes.