Want to increase employee participation in wellness programs? Here are some proven methods

It’s difficult to engage employees in organization activities outside their own jobs, and that applies to wellness as much as other areas. A Gallup report from a few years ago found that only 33% of the U.S. workforce engages with its employers. For workplace wellness programs the participation is worse, with averages below 30%.

And it’s a truism that wellness programs can only produce positive business outcomes if employees are engaged. So how do companies increase employee participation?

A well-defined, positive organizational culture has a significant impact, with policies that follow through. Wellness programs that specifically link back to that same culture also see a rise in engagement.

Award-winning wellness programs reveal a pattern: they focus on a higher purpose, inclusivity, and social sharing. Higher engagement rates are the result here as well. They’re even higher if the programs coincide with a company’s beliefs and values. Here are two examples of organizations that tapped into this virtuous relationship.

Hotwire follows its culture to wellness program success