Employee Wellness Plans : Menu Approach of Services

The menu approach offers employees a range of options to support lifestyle changes. It allows people to choose the kind of help that suits their schedules and preferences.

The four basic types of programs include:
• Classes
• Minigroups
• Guided self help
• Individual counseling

Classes

Classes (8 or more) can be an effective means of providing education and social support for behavior change. The length of a class can vary depending on topic requirements. It is not sufficient to offer only classes at a workplace.

Many workers are under time constraints with after work commitments and even though they may be interested they simply cannot take part because of their schedules.

workers may be very eager to begin a program but because of lack of participants to meet class quotas, the program is canceled. Many national companies such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Weight Watchers, etc. offer classes; you must have little trouble in identifying a provider for class type programs.

You may want to contact your local hospital, health department, or YMCA for possible options. For selecting a vendor to offer a program you may want to review the section on program structure.

Minigroups

When there is not sufficient interest to set up a class, those who are interested in a given health topic can be formed into a minigroup (2 to 7).

The minigroup can cover the same content as a class but do so in a less formal manner. Presentation of information and discussion is the major format of the minigroup.

Guided Self-Help

Most staff members do not want formal help in making health changes; they prefer to do it on their own. In guided self-help, the wellness counselors support reinforcement, materials, and encouragement.

Meeting times can be arranged and contact can be made either in person, by phone, or computer. Materials can be made available at the workplace, or mailed to the individual. Some worksites now make information available via intranets or the Internet.

Individual Counseling

One of the most successful ways to help individuals change and better their health status is counseling (or coaching) on a one-on-one basis.

In published studies, wellness programs which incorporated individual counseling as part of the program process achieved significantly higher participation rates and achieved greater risk reduction/risk elimination than standard group programs. Research studies have demonstrated that individual counseling is both cost effective and cost beneficial.

A wellness counselor should be trained in assessment techniques, for in certain situations, they may be needed to both screen people and counsel them. They should know how to do the following:

• Review employee health risks
• Contact staff members who have health risks.
• Counsel employees on a one-on-one basis, helping them set goals/objectives, solve problems, and get expert help when they need it.
• Help employees follow their treatment recommendations and make lifestyle and health behavior changes.
• Recruit workers into health improvement programs, such as weight loss and smoking cessation.
• Work with workers on a one-on-one basis using guided self-help.
• Conduct classes and minigroups if necessary.
• Work with Worksite Wellness Program Committee members to plan and conduct workplace-wide wellness activities.

Wellness counselors are health generalists; they must have basic knowledge about a wide range of health topics and health risks.

Counselors must be able to talk with staff members about their healthcare issues and the treatments prescribed by their doctors. They ought to have a great overview of diet, exercise physiology, pathophysiology of disease, pharmacology, psychology, and behavior modification skills.