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What defines a well-run workplace wellness program? A piece titled “Best Practice Design Principles of Worksite Health and Wellness Programs,” published by the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal outlines some of the characteristics.

1. Leadership: “Elements that set the vision for the program, assign accountability, ensure structural support for the program, engage leaders throughout the organization, set appropriate organizational policy to support health, and support the program’s need for resources.”
2. Relevance: “Elements that address factors critical to participation and engagement of employees and their families in the various program options. Relevance reflects the degree to which program options apply to the needs and interests of workers and their families. It is assumed that relevance is a critical factor in long-term engagement of employees.”
3. Partnership: “Elements that relate to efforts designed to integrate with multiple stakeholders including individual workers, employees as a population (representation), organized labor, community organizations, vendor companies, and other internal partners.”
4. Comprehensiveness: “Elements that, taken together, meet the definition of a comprehensive program and include health education, supportive physical and social environments, integration of the worksite program into the organization’s structure, linkage to related programs, and worksite screening programs.
5. Implementation: “Elements that ensure a planned, coordinated, and fully executed implementation of health management programs including ongoing monitoring and designated staff with clearly delineated accountabilities.”
6. Engagement: “Elements that promote respect throughout the organization, build trust, facilitate program co-ownership through participatory principles, ensure worker representation in decision-making processes, provide meaningful incentives that leverage intrinsic motivation and fit the company culture, and create a workplace environment in which health management programs thrive.”
7. Communications: Elements that indicate the presence of a formal communication strategy that includes a branding approach for program visibility, ongoing communications using multiple delivery channels, and targeted and tailored messaging designed to reach specific sub-groups.”
8. Data-driven: “Elements that represent the importance of informed decision-making and providing guidance through ongoing measurement, evaluation, reporting, and analytics. Data needs to be shared appropriately with other vendors for program integration purposes as well as to address comprehensive reporting needs. Not only is it important to ensure that data representing program experiences is relevant, clean, and representative, but also that it drives continuous program improvement.”
9. Compliance: “Elements that ensure the health management program meets regulatory requirements and safeguards individual-level data. Compliance may be considered a cornerstone element—without it, doubt may be cast upon the ethical and legal status of the health management program.”