Employees Who Refuse Wellness Programs: What Can You Do?

A recent discussion on Harvard Pilgrim's Let's Talk Health Care group on LinkedIn centered on the problems faced by companies that offer wellness programs to employees only to have the employees shun them. One person blamed apathy; another the company's big-brother attitude. But maybe the solution to the problem lies in expectations.

Yes, as an employer or coworker wanting a healthy workplace, you would prefer that all employees stop smoking. While success rates vary greatly depending on method, 100% employee participation and success is simply not going to happen.The same holds true of weight reduction, stress reduction and many other company initiatives.

Likewise, a gym on site is a wonderful opportunity, but many factors can operate against its use. Simple demographics can play a role. If the gym becomes filled with short wimpy women like me, the 6 footers who benchpress 200 pounds are going to feel out of place--and vice versa.

It would be a shame to let low participation end a very beneficial program. If the opportunity is available, someone will take advantage of it. One less death from lung cancer, diabetes, heart attack, or stroke will more than redeem a program.

For more conversations about health, see the Harvard Pilgrim LinkedIn group, Let's Talk Health Care.

Harvard Pilgrim is compensating the author for participating in the Let's Talk Health Care program but the opinions expressed are the author's own.