Employee Wellness Newsletter : Corporate Wellness Program: Gather Data to Determine Needs and Expectations  

Prior to you start planning your Worksite Health Promotion Program you need to know where you are now and then decide where you want to go.  Attaining a thorough needs assessment is vital to the success of your wellness program for two reasons:  First it ensures that your Worksite Health Promotion Program activities will be targeted to meet your company’s specific needs so that outcomes are able to be achieved.  Secondly the needs assessment supplies the information you will need to evaluate the effectiveness of your wellness program.

It is frequently tempting to rush the assessment – especially when time is limited or those with experience already have an idea of needs.  Do not give in to this temptation!  It is vital that you be aware of what your company needs are, what senior staff expects, and what staff members want as well as expect, before you create a Worksite Health Promotion Program.  

Consider and accumulate data on:

• Employee Demographic Information
• Employee Health Risk Factors
• Health Claims
• Injury Rates & Causes
• Workers’ Compensation Claims
• Short and Long Term Disability Claims
• Rates of Absenteeism
• Organization Culture Audits
• Employee perceived needs and health risks
• Senior Management’s expectations or desired outcomes

There are many ways to evaluate this information.  Although some of data gathering process may be time consuming, remember that it is nonetheless essential to plan programs that target specific issues.  This information will be vital to set goals and objectives and for evaluating program performance.  How else can you know if outcomes have been achieved?

Options to help gather the information:

• Confidential Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) with a Employer Group Summary Report
• Wellness Screenings such as blood lipids, Blood Pressure and blood sugar click here for additional information on health screenings.
• Employee Needs and Interest Surveys
• Suggestion boxes placed around the organization
• Focus Groups or hosting a luncheon meeting as a focus group
• Sending out a confidential email questionnaire
• Review records and databases including OSHA logs, first aid reports, insurance costs  

Once your needs assessment is complete, the Corporate Wellness Program Committee can review the results and start organizing and prioritizing program options.  Developing should be based upon objectives and goals and identified outcomes, Step 4 of the seven step process!