STAGE II—Thinking About It. Weighing the Pros & Cons
STAGE IV Taking Action. I'mDoing It!
The Small Business Advantage
There are often fewer “hoops” to jump through as a small business owner or employee. As the owner, you can often make a change without seeking approval from higher levels of management. As the employee, the same is true; there are less levels of management to go through to make policy changes.
Success depends on effective and direct communication, essentials in starting and maintaining any procedural or policy change. The personal relationships built in a small business are generally more personal between the employee and business owner.
Collecting and evaluating data is easier with fewer employees. In some cases, collecting data may be as easy as asking a question.
Higher rates of employee participation can be seen in small businesses where owners are often working side-by-side with their employees. That time allows for the opportunity to have mini interventions and advocate healthy lifestyle changes and participation in programs.
How Do I Get Started?
The first way to start an effective worksite wellness program is to gather information on from employees about their interests and willingness to participate in programming. It is also crucial to reflect on what you, as business owner are willing to do. There is technical assistance available from Somerset Heart to help collect and compile key information and a letter (please click on here to view letter ) that can be sent to your employees to announce the start of a wellness program.
Company Assessment / Employer Survey
As the owner and employer, it is important to identify what the business is capable of doing. You will be asked questions about policies at the worksite, any insurance that is offered, and the sorts of activities that are made available by the employer. This will provide insight on practical ways to support healthy lifestyles. Click here for the Company Assessment / Employer Survey .
Employee Assessment
The purpose of the employee assessment is to gain information on common themes of interest among the workforce. A wellness program is more likely to succeed if the health needs and interests of the employees are addressed. Click here for the Employee Assessment.
Somerset Heart Health has developed a very basic interest survey that can be given to each employee (including the owner), that can be filled out in hard copy or online. In addition, there is a short letter that can be sent to employees briefly describing the purpose of the survey and intention of starting a wellness program.
Once the surveys have been completed, Somerset Heart Health staff will pool the information and provide you with a summary of the results to help with planning of new initiatives.
Give employees a chance to voice what they think, as they are the experts in this matter.
