Health Fairs: A Good Way to Promote Workplace Wellness

Businesses across the country and across industries are embracing the idea that a healthier workforce is more productive and more profitable. They are also taking diverse pathways to encourage their workers to become more aware and more active in their own health.

On-site health fairs can be an excellent way to raise awareness about job-based risks and individual health status. Increasingly, fairs are seen as part of a larger effort to get employees to take responsibility for their own health.

Start with a Theme

Consider building your event around a theme, suggests Dr. Carol Rice, author ofWellness and Health Fair Planning (Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University). "Review your organization’s goals, corporate philosophy, and culture to determine an appropriate theme for your health fair. Is your organization competitive, conservative, formal, or fun? What are your organizational demographics?" The answers can help lead to a theme and tone for the event.

Another consideration is time of year and other concurrent events. You may choose to piggyback on a holiday, season, or national observance like American Heart Month in February or Employee Health and Fitness Month in May.

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Choice of Content

Options for booths, demonstrations, and information sharing are vast. Possibilities include:

• Self-care
• Back care
• Office safety
• Family fitness
• Using social media to improve health
• Ergonomics
• Alternative treatments (chiropractic, massage, acupuncture)
• Healthy eating and healthy weight loss
• Healthy aging
• Cancer prevention
• Women’s/men’s health issues
• Substance abuse
• First aid and emergency preparedness
• Stress reduction
• Screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, etc.

You can also use a health fair to showcase in-house resources and opportunities as well as those provided by outside vendors. Examples of in-house programs include your EAP, safety and health department and committee, workplace wellness program, health insurance plans and related offerings, and recreational activities sponsored by your company.

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Other Considerations

"Raffles, prizes, and giveaways can be fun at a health fair," says Rice. "They help build anticipation, participation, and excitement."

Another traditional incentive is a "wellness passport," which gets stamped at each booth or display an employee visits. Participants who collect a certain number of stamps receive a prize.

Other options include tokens, cash incentives, and time off for employees participating in a screening. Some employers whose health fairs are part of a workplace wellness program offer discounts on insurance premiums for completing a health risk assessment. Based on the results of the assessment, employees may be recommended for additional testing, disease management programs, and/or health coaching.

Tomorrow, we’ll give you an example of how health fairs can help small businesses build health awareness and encourage lifestyle changes.