Employee Health Promotion

Establish and offer “free” health information resources as part of the central worksite wellness strategy. Reliable information is available no cost, or at very low cost, through a myriad of resource areas. Ideas and resources will be suggested here. Also review the Resource and Website listings at the end of this guide for more ideas and resources.

Wellness Bulletin Board Ideas

Most workplaces have at least one employee bulletin board located in a central area. Get permission to use part of that bulletin board as the “Wellness Corner”, or get upper management approval to create a bulletin board dedicated to wellness. Wellness bulletin board ideas include:

• White 8 1/2” x 11” handouts will be ignored. Use color or nonstandard size and shape when possible.
• Change your bulletin boards often. If they remain the same too long, they become “white noise.”
• Play “Dialing for Dollars” to broaden bulletin board attention. Make a random phone call and ask an employee to name the health fact of the day as listed on the health bulletin board. Award nominal prizes to winners. Use an “activities calendar” with targeted advertisements, football schedules, recipes, etc. that will advocate keeping the calendar updated and utilized.

Wellness Library

Establish a wellness program library in a central area that has simple employee access. Resources and ideas for the wellness library might include:

• A local health resources guide with referral lists to help employees hook up with resources if worksite resources cannot be offered. Keep referral lists in a 3-ring binder and update monthly.
• A brief, periodic wellness newsletter or update flyer distributed to employees via their paycheck or department meetings.
• A variety of consumer books, magazines, videos, and articles related to great health. Solicit employee donations of current titles and recyclable items. Encourage employees to checkout materials for loan. Update resources regularly.
• Healthy resources are available at local libraries. Publicize those resources within your on-Site wellness library.
• Health magazines can be kept in the employee break area.
• Establish a consumer health information bin that is updated with articles and pertinent information regarding consumerism and healthcare. Check the resource listings at the end of this guide for more ideas.
• Free handouts materials can be obtained from local non-profit agencies (American Red Cross, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Lung Association), and made available in employee areas. See website listings and other resources in the back of this guide for more ideas regarding no cost health resources.

New Year’s Resolution Bulletin Board

• Have employees voluntarily write down their health-related New Year’s resolutions on 3” x 5” index cards with their names on the back.
• Display the cards in the form of a collage on the wellness bulletin board.
• Leave the cards up for about two weeks, and then store them in a secure wellness file.
• Display the cards near the end of February to remind employees of their goals/objectives and self-commitments.
• Take the cards down again after another week and again store in a secure file.
• Mail the cards back to the people along with wellness program promotions or other information announcements at the end of March.
• During the year, continue to offer wellness opportunities, backing groups, or related activities.