Joan Bettinger Are Employees Motivated by Wellness Communications?

What Is “Wellness?” Behavioral modification programs Weight control Nutrition Exercise Tobacco cessation Healthy Pregnancy Program Screenings for: Cholesterol Stress Blood pressure

Why Do We Need Wellness Programs? Health care costs are too high for employers and employees They are designed to encourage preventive medicine

For a wellness program to lower health care costs, employees need to be engaged in the program… Where do communications fit in?

In order to be engaged, the employees need to be motivated. Where do communications fit in?

Research Question Do certain wellness communications motivate employees to take action?

Methodology Survey 26 questions 340 employees Online or paper 83% response rate

Three Types of Action Steps Level 1 – no commitment Level 2 - brief commitment Level 3 – long-term commitment

Level 1 Action Step : “Did you mark your calendar?” 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Level 1 Action Step: Follow-through “Did you attend the event?” Of those who marked their calendars, almost 70% actually attended the event.

Level 2 Action Step: “Did you register for a biometric screening?” 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Level 2 Action Step: Age Group “Did you register for a biometric screening?” Age Groups 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Level 3 Action Step: “ Did you read article on Healthy Weight Program?” Thirty-three percent (33%) of those who went to the website read the article.

Level 3 Action Step: Follow-Through Did You Join the Healthy Weight Program? 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0

Level 3 Action Step: Motivation “What motivated you to join the Healthy Weight program?” 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Motivational Speaker External Information Health Fair Posted Articles

Research Question Do certain wellness communications motivate employees to take action? Yes

Key Findings Level 1 action step –Simple requests had highest levels of action and follow-through. Level 3 action step –Required human interaction as influencers. Males, age least motivated by the communications

Recommendations Use multiple topics Targeted messages to targeted audiences

Questions?