Wellness Forum

Step 4: Policy Implementation

It’s important to inform your employees in advance that a new policy is being developed. Doing so allows employees to talk openly about the changes and prevents unexpected surprises, such as when healthy food replaces unhealthy food at meetings or smoking is no longer allowed around the office building.

To help make the transition as smooth as possible, worksites can encourage open communication, provide a timeline for implementation, and show that management supports the policy changes.

Here are a few ways to inform and get buy-in from both management and staff:

Management

Have the chief executive officer, owner, or senior management announce the development of worksite wellness policies and/or programs. ( Sample letter in support of worksite wellness)
Schedule meetings to familiarize mid-level managers/supervisors of their role in implementing and promoting the policies.
Ask management to model healthy behaviors.
Offer short informational meetings about the policy changes.

Staff

Have management introduce new policies at regular staff meetings.
Post signs on bulletin boards, in the break room, rest rooms, and company vehicles (i.e. no smoking signs).
Send out a memo with paychecks introducing the new wellness policies.
Send out a memo through e-mails.
Post a memo on web-based electronic bulletin boards or the company’s website.
Distribute memos, flyers, or pamphlets in employees’ mailboxes.
Include new/revised policies in training manuals and new staff orientations.