“The purpose of worksite wellness is not to change people, but to change the culture.”
-Dr. Dee Edington
According to a recent employer survey from Towers Watson, the top focus area of employers' health care strategy in 2013 is to develop a workplace culture where employees are accountable and supported for their health and well-being.
Is creating a supportive culture top on your list? If not, it definitely should be. Research shows that only 20% of employee lifestyle change attempts are successful. But a supportive environment which promotes the health and well-being by "making the healthier choice, the easier choice" can help increase the success rates.
According to Dr. Dee Edington, one of the foremost researchers and advocates for worksite wellness, a supportive culture is the most important element in behavior change. Culture is multi-dimensional. Culture is shaped by everything that happens at your workplace - policies, leadership styles, unspoken rules, employee recognition, and the physical environment.
So how do you move toward a culture of health? Here are the five essential ingredients to creating an environment that supports healthy behavior:
- Leadership and commitment
- A comprehensive set of programs
- Ongoing promotion and communication
- Use of incentives (both carrots and sticks)
- Participation and outcome metrics
Culture can be the difference maker, between success and failure, to changing long-term healthy behavior. Companies will be successful when they focus on supporting employees to change rather than trying to "fix them".
