Establish Employee Communications Channels

When your program is beginning, it's important to let employees know what the expectations and incentives are for program participation. Clearly communicate the program with employees to ensure that they are all aware of the program's existence and know how to get involved.¹⁷⁶ Establishing good communication methods with your employees from the start of your program is important because it–

• Reminds employees of your commitment to their health.
• Creates a sense of community among employees by connecting them to others with similar nutrition and physical activity goals.
• Serves as a motivator by celebrating success or acknowledging challenges.
• Helps employees look at the worksite as an opportunity (rather than a barrier) to engage in positive nutrition and physical activity practices.

Some tips for effectively communicating with your employees are–

• Assess your worksite's communications capabilities to establish what is available and to determine how the information can be disseminated (e.g. company blogs, podcasts, newsletters).
• Use simple language about the program that is easy to read and understand, and promotes program involvement by both employees and dependents.
• Create a brand with which employees can identify. Put it on emails, flyers, t-shirts, water bottles, and other merchandise that employees will receive.
• Try to maintain a consistent look, feel, and tone of messages so that employees do not get mixed messages.

Keep the timing and the frequency of your communications in mind. It's important to communicate with employees–

• Before the program begins so that employees will be aware of it and its benefits.
• During the program so that employees will be encouraged to participate.
• After the program is over to report the results.
• Between program activities to keep interest levels high.

Remember that you can build on existing communication channels within your organization to make it easier to reach your employees—

• Use print materials, including brochures, fliers, posters, banners, paycheck inserts, newsletter articles, and bulletin boards.
• Use electronic means, including Web, Intranet, e-mail, and audio/video productions.
• Use staff meetings and organizational events, as well as word of mouth, to reach people on a face-to-face basis.
• Inform employees about the program during health screenings.¹⁰⁴

Consider communicating with your employees through multiple means,^{177, 178} such as–

• Organization Intranet.
• Newsletters.
• E-mail.
• Bulletin boards.
• Motivational signs.
• Paycheck stubs.
• Public address announcements.
• Annual Reports.
• Union publications.

When using these types of communication methods, make sure to provide new content on a regular basis and use engaging stories and language in order to capture the attention of your employees. Examples of what kinds of content you can include are–

• News and personal stories.
• Discussion boards.
• Regularly updated tips on physical activity and nutrition.
• Highlights of the incentive and rewards programs, if used.
• Profiles of employees who are participating in the program.
• Cafeteria displays.
• Posters.
• Pictures from organization obesity prevention events.

Also in This Section

• Plan the marketing strategy
• Determine incentives and rewards
• Launch the program
• Expert Interview - David Anderson, PhD
• Expert Interview - George J. Pfeiffer

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