Increasing Participation Rates in Wellness Programs for Small and Medium Organizations Technical Report

The Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces (ICHW) at UC Berkeley and Transamerica Center for Health Studies® (TCHS) are releasing the new, evidence-based analysis, Increasing Participation Rates in Wellness Programs for Small and Medium Organizations Technical Report.

• This report analyzes how to increase employee participation in wellness programs, especially in small and medium organizations.
• Methods included literature reviews, focus groups with 29 organizations, analysis of survey data, and development of an employer guide.
• Key findings:
  • Participation rates tend to be higher in small organizations that offer programs compared to medium/large organizations
  • Common barriers include lack of time, knowledge, motivation, resources, leadership support, and privacy concerns
  • Facilitators include leadership support, culture of health, good communication, and programs aligned with employee needs/interests
• Recommendations:
  • Match wellness programs to organizational constraints/opportunities
  • Enhance facilitators like employee motivation, social connections, flexible scheduling
  • Overcome barriers like long work hours, lack of knowledge, privacy concerns
  • Get leadership buy-in and support
  • Tailor programs to employee needs and preferences
  • Provide low/no-cost options for resource-constrained organizations
• An assessment tool and employer guide were developed to help organizations identify suitable wellness program options based on their specific facilitators and barriers
• The study provides insights to help small and medium organizations implement more effective wellness programs with higher participation rates. Leadership support and alignment with organizational culture/constraints are critical success factors.

In addition, ICHW created an interactive assessment tool to guide users on selecting workplace wellness programs that fit their company culture and employee needs. The tool also links to the Finding Fit Employer Guide so users can learn more about addressing an organization’s resources and constraints.

Our research for the employer guide was funded by the Transamerica Center for Health Studies(link is external)(link is external).