Employee Health Promotion

A health & wellness fair is an opportune way to familiarize employees with health problems and related wellness programs. During a health & wellness fair employees might be able to get resource materials; participate in available wellness screenings (vision, hearing, blood, cholesterol, cancer, dental, etc.); observe demonstrations on the use of fitness equipment; go to mini-classes on various health issues; get no cost promotional items from local organizations; sample healthy foods; and pick up information about their health benefit plan. Some organizations feature a “health & benefit fair” which includes vendors representing the various employee benefit plans (long-term disability, retirement, etc.) available to employees through their business. Considerations when coordinating a health & wellness fair:

• Setting up a successful health & wellness fair takes extensive time. Time problems ought to 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 available 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 looking to make contact with as many persons as possible during the event. Securing their responsibility to future wellbeing and health fairs requires that every effort be made to encourage participation by publicizing the event, selecting the proper venue, and offering incentives.
• If possible, locate the health & wellness fair in a location with heavy foot traffic.
• Ask vendors to provide no cost materials at their table and to make a donation to a prize drawing. Adhere to all business policies when soliciting donations.
• As an idea to stimulate employee participation and to keep interest high, each attendee might 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 ought to take place every 15 or 30 minutes.
• Consider teaming up with area organizations to hold a health & wellness fair. A group 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 prepared 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 host the fair at lunchtime time. Place stations in business hallways or in individual small conference or office rooms scattered throughout the building. Provide 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 involving a wide array of vendors and services involved with physical, mental, economic and social health; for example, health agencies, safety organizations, benefits providers, local healthcare facilities, recreational facilities, parks, financial planners, childcare referrals, EAP, health clubs, health food stores, library, alternative and complementary medicine providers, etc.