6 tips for more effective wellness communications

Any wellness program, from financial planning, to steps competitions and mental-health support, depends on communications. It’s really that simple. The best plans and programs won’t succeed if employees are disengaged or unaware.

With so many wellness programs more common and the offerings more robust than ever, it’s essential for wellness managers to communicate all aspects of their programs to the right audiences to reach engagement goals and see a healthier workforce.

Some data suggests the opposite is happening. A recent Quantum Health survey of 1,000 consumers with employer-sponsored health insurance found employers are struggling to understand and engage with their benefits, resulting in loss of productivity and higher stress. So in this context, it’s valuable to look at what’s working. Some industry-wide best practices for wellness communications include:

• A dedicated intranet page or website.
• Wellness champions or liaisons.
• A messaging strategy that goes beyond enrollment.
• Leadership buy-in.
• Apps that ping users.
• Measurements to create data-driven improvements.