How to Implement an Effective Wellness Plan

Answering the question, “Why should our company have an employee wellness program?” may not seem easy. Immediately, a welter of new questions arises about cost, results, time investment, and the speculation that the HR department, or company as a whole, will be seen as intrusive busybodies. These concerns have been addressed in Canadian context. Recent research demonstrates that an effective wellness plan has a good return on investment (ROI). And there are good examples of simple, low-cost and, most of all, fun ways to engage employees in achieving better mental, physical and social health. In 2013, the question about a workplace wellness program is no longer “why,” but “when and how.”

The hardest part in creating a wellness program for your company is knowing where to start. Having solid facts, figures and information gathered from a variety of sources will help ensure your ROI is accurate and your wellness program is a success for all concerned.

An effective wellness plan

Hallmark Canada recently implemented an effective wellness plan for its employees in the Aurora and Toronto areas. Mike Soehner, Director of HR for Employee Relations, explains: “Hallmark is a family owned business; a private company. There is a culture in place here that supports employee relations. We do employee engagement surveys and know people have concerns about well-being and the environment they are working in. We can gauge the success of some of the programs put in place by analyzing the results of the surveys.”