Health policy: 6 powerful tips for support

Healthy at work

Fortunately, the theme of 'healthy at work' is becoming increasingly important within companies. HR managers and directors are becoming more and more convinced that they can give their staff's health a boost with a health policy. But before health programs can have the desired effect, there must be sufficient support for them.

Together you are strong, but how?

The more people behind a proposal, the more you will get done. Therefore, it is important that everyone in the company is convinced and enthusiastic about ideas that are on the table, both management and staff. In addition, if the staff is enthusiastic about the plan, management is more likely to follow. After all, employees make the company. However, creating support in this way is easier said than done. Colleagues can be enthusiastic, but also resistant. Therefore, it is important that everyone sees the point and feels that when "healthy at work" starts, that both the private and work situation improves.

• Tip 1: Make sure you approach the most important people at the right time and with the right issue. Do you want a healthy options in the cafeteria? Then sit down with the person responsible for this and discuss the options. Are you looking to collaboration with an expert in the field of preventive medical examinations? Know your budget, do your research, and present your ideas to management. This way, you can identify common interests and convey your point clearly.
• Tip 2: Maintain a positive approach, both before and after. Explain the benefits of a healthier lifestyle and show management how healthier employees can benefit the company (financially). The staff should enjoy the health program, but management must also see the added value for the company. During an evaluation, inform everyone of the results, toast the successes, and ensure that no one wants to return to their old, unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Need for orientation, participation and influence

Health and lifestyle generally remain a sensitive topic. It is therefore not surprising that it takes some time before people are enthusiastic about a health policy. People want to be able to get a good orientation, contribute ideas and think about the content of health programs. In this way, management and staff are more likely to feel part of the plan. They will become ambassadors of the health policy, so to speak.

• Tip 3: Make sure you are aware of developments within the company. If you know where the priorities of the staff and management lie, you can assess what will convince them, what is still missing, and what the expectations are. This way, you show that you consider it important that everyone supports the policy.
• Tip 4: Know who is enthusiastic and where resistance lies. By being open to suggestions and additions and putting yourself in the shoes of those who are resistant, you increase the chance of gaining more support. Questions you can ask yourself are: What are the problems? And how can I ensure that everyone sees the health policy as a win-win situation?

Structure and support: prerequisites for success

Short- and long-term prevention requires a clear approach. Only by drawing attention to "health" on a regular basis will the subject remain alive. In addition, everyone in the company is aware of why the policy was created, how the problem is being addressed and what results the company expects to achieve.

• Tip 5: Stay informed about needs and tailor the content of your health policy accordingly. By continuously creating support, you increase the chance that the policy will make a valuable contribution to the corporate culture. Is reducing absenteeism a priority? Then make sure you understand the impact of a healthy lifestyle on absenteeism. Does the company consider creating a safe working environment ? Then take into account that fit and well-rested employees make fewer mistakes.
• Tip 6: Connect with personal interests and preferences. The internet is full of studies about the positive effects of sufficient exercise, healthy nutrition, and adequate relaxation. Respond to this. Not by constantly pointing out the benefits, but by responding to interests, you increase engagement.

Health policy: Support requires attention

On your own, you won't get there. Creating a healthy corporate culture requires sufficient support. But before you have enough supporters to make your plan a success you are a few months, if not a year, away. By identifying in advance who the key people involved are, what the needs are and why people show resistance, you increase the chances that the majority will eventually agree with your proposal.

A health policy involves the entire company, so it is important that everyone feels a part. By responding to interests, telling people what they can rather than what they can't, and being transparent about every step taken, you keep their attention. But creating support is important not only in the early stages. As the policy enters a new phase, support must also be re-established. Therefore, stay aware of the priorities within the company and adjust the health policy accordingly. In this way you will get more done.

A study published in the "Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine" in 2017 found that employees who participated in workplace health programs had a 25% lower chance of absenteeism. This shows that properly implemented health policies not only promote health but also provide direct financial benefits to companies through reduced absenteeism.

Source: Baicker, K., Cutler, D., & Song, Z. (2010). Workplace Wellness Programs Can Generate Savings. Health Affairs, 29(2), 304–311.