Employee wellness has evolved from a nice-to-have perk to a strategic business initiative. However, simply having a wellness program is not enough to make a positive impact on your organization’s bottom line. Communication is key. Organizations that effectively communicate their wellness initiatives see higher participation rates, improved employee health outcomes and stronger workforce engagement. In this article we’ll explore how thoughtful wellness communications can help improve your wellness initiatives.

The Power of Well-Crafted Wellness Communications

The best designed wellness programs will fall flat without effective communication. Effective wellness communications serve as the link between your organization’s investment in its wellness program and employee participation. Research by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans shows companies with effective wellness communications experience participation rates of up to 40% higher than those without strategic messaging.

Consider these communication strategies:

• Personalize messages based on employee demographics and interests
• Utilize multiple channels (email, intranet, mobile apps, text messages)
• Schedule regular communication throughout the year
• Share success stories and testimonials from program participants
• Create clear, concise messaging that highlights both immediate and long-term benefits

When employees understand how your wellness program works and why it matters, they are significantly more likely to participate and sustain their involvement over time.

Communications Must Evolve

Communications cannot remain static if the goal is to drive participation in an organization’s wellness program. As with all communication, you can’t improve what you don’t measure. Just like with any other communication, communications related to wellness should be driving real, measurable change.

Key metrics to monitor include:

• Open and click-through rates for digital communications
• Survey-based comprehension scores
• Completed calls to action
• Feedback on message relevance and usefulness

A thoughtfully designed wellness programs are designed to reduce costs and attract and retain top talent. Remember that the best designed wellness programs also need a thoughtfully designed communications strategy. By consistently communicating the value of wellness and organizational commitment to employee health, you will help build a workplace culture where well-being becomes an integral part of everyday work life – benefiting both your employees and your bottom line.

Have a question? Schedule time with Edward Sanchez, Director – Customer Adoption & Engagement, by clicking here.