Help us help you
Take Home Messages:
Employee participation rates in workplace heath promotion programs increase when employers:
- Actively promote the programs; and
- Offer incentives for participation.
Why the research matters:
Employers have the ability to have a positive impact on the health of their workers by undertaking health promotion programs in the workplace. However, while workplaces may attempt to provide health promotion initiatives, often employee participation rates are poor.
Improving employee participation rates will greatly improve the effectiveness of such programs.
What the research involved:
This study collected data from 124 employers, of 882,275 employees, who completed 344,825 health and productivity assessments.
The health and productivity assessments, which were completed online, were used to assess the worker’s health risks, productivity, and modifiable behaviours. Once the employee has completed a workplace health and productivity assessments they were then offered to participate in a number of online health promotion programs which address their individual health risk factors.
These programs addressed:
- Weight loss;
- Physical activity;
- Nutritional management;
- Stress relief;
- Heart health;
- Diabetes prevention;
- Smoking termination;
- Healthy aging; and
- Cancer prevention.
Summary of research findings:
The study found that the following factors were the most strongly associated with high rates of employee participation:
-
Employer activity:
Where the employers went to greater lengths to make their employees aware of the health and productivity assessments. This could be by promoting the program several times via email, brochures, flyers, and at workplace meetings;
- Greater incentives provided for completion of the assessments;
The study also calculated that to get 50% of employees to participate in the assessments, employers had to spend approximately:
- $120 if the employer went to little effort to promote the program; or
- $80 if the employer actively promoted the program.
Original research:
Incentives and other factors associated with employee participation in health risk assessments.
Taitel MS, Haufle V, Heck D, Loeppke R, Fetterolf D.
J Occup Environ Med. 2008 Aug;50(8):863-72.