Employee Wellness Plans : Company Health Promotion Program Ideas: National Health Observances

National health observance campaigns can lighten workload and effort. Many of these well-developed observances have kits and materials which can either be downloaded for no cost or purchased inexpensively. Monthly health themes, week long events, and nationally recognized days of the year are also good ways to have fun while participating in larger events. Health observances are tied to almost every aspect of wellness and health. Things to consider:

• National observances present opportunities to work with other community agencies and corporations to begin larger activities and celebrations.
• A wellness message is more likely to stick with people if the information is presented at work, in local grocery stores, and on television.
• National Employee Fitness Day/Week (April) is a wonderful place to start.
• A word of advice: do not go overboard in attempting to tie a wellness program into these national observances, as there are so many. Pick one to three programs per year and stick with these. Create and reward programs well ensuring that employees will come to expect and anticipate these programs each year. It is best to do a few Worksite Wellness Programs very well than numerous promotions poorly.