Employee Wellness Newsletter : Company Health Promotion Program Goal Setting & Achievement Recognition Program

Every worksite will have staff members who won’t take part in available workplace wellness activities. But these same staff members may be following numerous healthy practices in their daily living. A great wellness program should give these individuals credit and recognition for their great work.

Recognition of healthy goal setting and goal performance is a good approach for reinforcing what people are doing on their own outside of work, and for reaching those who do not like group activities. Suggested steps for individual goals and recognition include:
• A form employees can fill out which includes the set intention(s) and a target date for completion.
• Information on setting realistic objectives and goals, as people frequently overestimate what they can do and by when. It’s wonderful to remind workers “baby steps” count!
• Maintain a confidential file of the submitted employee objective forms in a dated “tickler” system.
• Send a reminder to each employee at the time of each participant’s intention date. This reminder could be a copy of their original intention form. Ask for employee’s feedback regarding their intention(s): completed the intention, need an extension, or have discontinued the intention.
• When the form is returned from an employee:
   1. If an employee has completed the objective, a certificate of completion is received along with a prize or incentive item linked to the objective (if possible).
   2. If the employee renegotiates the deadline or the objective, the form is re-filed for future follow-up. Continue to promote the employee.
   3. If the goal is canceled, send a note acknowledging this “good try” and advocate the employee to try again when the timing is right.
• Allow those interested in this process to set goals and objectives any time and as often as they want.