Posted by admin | Posted in Workplace Health Promotion | Posted on 17-10-2008
Strong and visible upper management support for the Workplace Health Promotion Program promotes health and is vital to securing necessary Workplace Health Promotion Program resources (staff, time, and money) and implementing recommended changes.
1. Identify a Workplace Health Promotion Program champion
In a small company, there may be a single leader who is the clear choice to champion the Workplace Health Promotion Program. In a larger company, look for an executive with the authority to influence others in the highest levels of the organization regarding the Workplace Health Promotion Program. The Workplace Health Promotion Program champion need not be the fittest member of upper management. Rather, look for a Workplace Health Promotion Program leader with the disposition to be a visible and vocal supporter of worksite policies that encourage healthy behaviors. Organizations with multiple sites can consider whether it would be useful to have an executive Workplace Health Promotion Program champion at each site.
2. Find existing Workplace Health Promotion Program allies
There may already be a number of individuals within your company who recognize the value of a Workplace Health Promotion Program. Think about who those individuals are in your company; consider areas such as occupational safety, union representatives, risk management, medical officers, and human resources when looking for a Workplace Health Promotion Program ally. Obtain their stated support for the Workplace Health Promotion Program. Workplace Health Promotion Program support could include contributions of staff time or expertise, financial resources, agreement to endorse/support policy and environmental changes, or agreement to participate in, and voice their support for, changes in the worksite that will help to build a culture of health.
3. Build a business case for the Workplace Health Promotion Program
There is a reason that more and more companies are finding a way to promote the health of the employees via a Workplace Health Promotion Program and policies: A Workplace Health Promotion Program makes good business sense. employees with healthy behaviors, on average, are more productive when at work (higher presenteeism)1 and incur lower medical care costs than workers with less healthy behaviors.2,3 As a result it would be foolish not to have a Workplace Health Promotion Program.
4. When developing a Workplace Health Promotion Program use what you know about leadership styles and the decision-making process within your company
Every company is different. Build upper management support for the Workplace Health Promotion Program in the way that makes the most sense for your company. Think about the following as you plan how to approach upper management for Workplace Health Promotion Program support:
• What are the current priorities and pressures facing executives? How could a Workplace Health Promotion Program and a healthier workforce support those priorities?
• How do the leaders prefer to receive data: written documents? verbal presentations?
• What kinds of Workplace Health Promotion Program information are likely to influence decisions? Do they want data and Workplace Health Promotion Program statistics specific to your company, or are state or national data sufficient? Are the leaders more influenced by internal factors or by what competitors are doing?
• Who would the leaders see as a reliable messenger for this Workplace Health Promotion Program information? Does someone from the risk management area carry more clout than someone from the human resources area?
• How do decisions get made in your company? Informal committee meetings? Formal or informal meetings between executives? Plan accordingly and you improve the odds that the Workplace Health Promotion Program will become a reality.
5. Maintain Workplace Health Promotion Program support once you have it
Once you have appropriate Workplace Health Promotion Program support, ensure that you keep it by regularly updating the leaders on the health of the employees and progress toward starting a culture that promotes health. Ask upper management how frequently they want to receive Workplace Health Promotion Program progress reports.
Source Information:
1 Bunn, JOEM, 2006, 48:10.
2 Foldes, Bland, An et al. Modifiable Health Risks and Short-Term Health Care Costs. BC/BS of Minnesota internal research, submitted for publication.
3 Anderson, 2000, American Journal of Health Promotion, 15:1.
