If you are looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of your wellness programs, consider social networking as a low-cost solution. Utilizing social networking to enhance your wellness program can increase employee engagement and help improve employee behaviors.
It is no secret that social media is transforming the way people communicate in the workplace. Using social media as part of your wellness program communication can be a new way to share knowledge and reach untapped resources. Social media is a great way to build buzz and create more effective, personal communications and a platform for employees to share tips and stories about how they are using the wellness program to improve and sustain their health. The interactive and engaging nature of Facebook makes it a great place to engage with employees and promote healthy behavior.
Why Utilize Social Networking in your Workplace Wellness Program?
Tapping into social networking can increase participation among your employees. It allows colleagues to challenge each other to participate in wellness initiatives in ways that traditional wellness programs cannot. The peer-to-peer dynamics online and offline can increase employee participation.
Social networking can keep employees involved in the program. It can be difficult to find new ideas and initiatives to keep wellness programs fresh. And it is always a challenge to find a way to reach the employees outside the workplace. With social networking, employees can create their own groups and share information about topics that are important to them. This can result in a more long-term engagement.
Example: Once employees have found the wellness area that they are interested in improving, they are much more likely to stick with the program. Finding others with similar goals is also important for staying with the program. With help from social networking outlets such as Facebook groups, employees can find exactly what they are looking for and get involved with other employees who have similar interests. Achieving wellness goals is much easier when you have company. Social networking can help employees stay in the program, whether they are tapping into an outlet to plan group workouts or just finding moral support.
Modify behaviors to become healthier with social networking. Those around you have a tremendous impact on your health – if your employees see colleagues losing weight, increasing exercise, eating healthy, or otherwise embracing a healthier lifestyle, they will be more likely to join in and do so as well. You can help employees adopt healthy behaviors by increasing peer influence through social networking.
Example: Consider using a corporate Facebook account to post health and wellness articles, information and
Success stories. When employees follow you, they will receive overall wellness information as well as examples of how others are embracing a healthier lifestyle. This is a simple way to continue to connect with employees about wellness as frequently as you would like. Adopting healthy behaviors doesn’t happen right away, but social networking can help keep health and wellness on employees’ radar year around.
Utilizing Social Media is free . Social media is free and public recognition within these medium can be very influential in reaching the goals of your wellness program
Example: Facebook can be a great outlet for recognizing employees as a component of inventive-based program. Consider posting names of incentive winners to create company-wide awareness for the program. If there is a prize associated with the recognition, make that known as well. The public recognition will encourage others to meet incentives and continue to embrace a healthier lifestyle into the future.