Employee Wellness Newsletter : Corporate Wellness Program Ideas: Health Fairs

A health fair is a great way to familiarize employees with health concerns and related wellness programs. During a health fair employees might be able to obtain resource materials; take part in offered wellness screenings (vision, hearing, blood, blood lipids, cancer, dental, etc.); observe demonstrations on the use of exercise equipment; catch mini-seminars on various health subject matters; get no cost promotional items from local corporations; sample healthy foods; and obtain information about their health benefit plan.

Some businesses host a “health & benefit fair” which includes vendors representing the various employee benefit plans (long-term disability, retirement, etc.) available to workers through their employer.

Considerations when coordinating a health fair:

• Setting up a efficacious health fair takes extensive time. Time concerns must be taken into account in planning and organizing such an event. The most time consuming part is generally contacting potential participants, making arrangements for their participation, confirming their participation, and setting up the day of the event.
• Sufficient space, tables and chairs must be on hand to allow for the number of vendors involved. Some vendors may have portable displays or materials that will require additional space, access to electrical outlets, or other logistical considerations that must be discussed prior to the health & wellness fair.
• Vendors will be hoping to make contact with as many persons as possible during the event. Securing their commitment to future wellness fairs requires that every effort be made to reward participation by publicizing the event, selecting the proper venue, and offering incentives/rewards.
• If possible, locate the wellness fair in a location with heavy foot traffic.
• Ask vendors to bring no cost materials at their table and to make a donation to a prize drawing. Adhere to all corporation policies when soliciting donations.
• As an idea to boost employee participation and to keep interest high, each attendee could be given a “passport”, similar to a bingo card, to be signed by each vendor. The signed passport becomes the ticket for the prize drawings. Such drawings must take place every 15 or 30 minutes.
• Consider teaming up with area companies to host a health & wellness fair. A team effort will distribute the work and maximize participation.

Ideas for a Benefits Fair:

Include representatives from each of your employee benefits provider groups. Ask each vendor to be ready to answer employee questions concerning their program. Representatives might include:

• Retirement plan representative.
• Long-term disability plan representative.
• Health plan representative.
• Health Benefits representative.
• Contract cell phone representative (if applicable).
• Local savings and loan or credit union representative.
• Workers’ compensation representative.

Limited Space for a Health Fair: If space is limited hold the fair at lunchtime time. Place stations in company hallways or in individual small conference or office rooms scattered throughout the building. Offer a map with all the stations listed. Have a no cost drawing awarding a prize for anyone who goes to 75 percent of the stations. Use a punch card or similar method to verify.

Resources for health & benefit fairs coordination:

Assume a broad definition of “health” and reflect that by including a variety of vendors and services involved with physical, mental, financial and social health; for example, health agencies, safety organizations, benefits providers, local medical care facilities, recreational facilities, parks, monetary planners, childcare referrals, EAP, health clubs, health food stores, library, alternative and complementary medicine providers, etc.