Transparency is extremely important to us, so we are letting you know that we may receive a commission on some of links you click on from this page. See our disclaimer.

Providing employees with an effective workplace wellness program is one step in helping create a healthier workforce. But engaging those employees — ensuring they get involved — is another.

The Healthcare Trends Institute offers tips via the AON Consumer Health Mindset Report:

• “Design with Intent: Make it easy for the employee to register for and use the service.”
• “Reduce Unnecessary Expense: Throwing a one-size-fits-all option will waste an employee’s time and money. Make the offering personal for a higher level of engagement.”
• “Move the Employees: The wellness program has to be engaging for employees to be engaged.”
• “Make it Meaningful: Give employees a good reason to commit, and they are more likely to do so. In 2014, employers with a strong workplace health culture were more likely to exercise 3 times per week (62% vs 49%) and get a physical (72% vs 64%) than they would do in a company with a weak health culture.”

The report offers other ideas on Communication, Ease of Use, Motivation, The Power of Groups, and Social influence.

And why does engagement matter? As the post notes: “A successful wellness program is one from which both employers and employees can benefit. Employers in reduced costs ($30 per employee per month according to a RAND study), increased productivity, and better engagement; employees in better health, resulting in lower costs.”