Health and Wellness Leads : Worksite Wellness Program: Obtaining Senior Leadership Support

Support from senior staff is essential to building a successful wellness program! Visible senior staff reinforcement is one of the most vital factors in the success of a workplace Worksite Health Promotion Program. Upper Management executives are responsible for making sure that the employer meets its objectives. They can provide additional assistance by helping you to link your Worksite Health Promotion Program objectives to employer outcomes, thereby positioning Worksite Health Promotion Program as a fundamental part of the employer.

It is significant to create support and excitement for the program from all echelons of the company including upper management, mid-level management, and grass-root employees.

The challenge for any Corporate Health Promotion Program coordinator is convincing management about the potential value of Corporate Health Promotion Program to the organization and conceptualizing how Corporate Health Promotion Program pushes can effect the organization in a meaningful manner. The American Journal of Health Promotion is a great resource to assist you with obtaining convincing information on the benefits of a Corporate Health Promotion Program.

Worksite Health Promotion Program reinforcement from management can come in many different ways:

• Involvement in the wellness program planning process
• Distribution of funding for the wellness program
• Support for time given to the wellness program
• Participation in wellness programs
• Administration by management, such as the distribution of a letter of reinforcement for the program.
• Flexibility of employee schedules to accommodate wellness activities