Zappos Proud of Employees First Culture
“Working here is just a lot of fun, which is part of the appeal and how we retain employees,” declares Kelly Maher, Wellness Coordinator for Zappos in Las Vegas. While obviously concerned about the bottom line, the driving force behind this online merchandiser is to: Attract the best possible employees Create a work environment they […]
Unkindness May Be Killing Us
I’m a life-long politics junkie. But I’m giving it up for my health. The constant vitriol coming out of Washington DC, its amplification on cable news, and the late night comics piling it on are leaving me exhausted. Not only can those on the left and on the right not agree on anything, the expression […]
The Motley Fool: Not Your Cookie Cutter Wellness Program
It’s no surprise a company called The Motley Fool values lightheartedness and fun, including in their wellness program. Samantha (Sam) Whiteside, MPH (Chief Wellness Officer) points to an all-encompassing, holistic design as the key to the program’s overwhelming popularity — 9 out of 10 employees… or Fools… participate. Their success is reflected in numerous awards […]
Social Media in Well-Being Programs — What’s Not to Like?
If you use a social media platform in your work, you may underestimate — and underuse — its power. This is true for public websites like Facebook®, Instagram®, or Twitter; in-house collaboration platforms like Yammer® (a Microsoft® product) or Chatter® (a Salesforce service); or the social features of well-being products — including HES challenges and […]
The Boldest Thing I Ever Did…
…to enhance health, promote a program, reinforce a successful challenge, attract new people to a service. Every wellness manager has a fun story to tell about a zany act that was out there. Here’s one from my days at The Dow Chemical Company. Each January through April in the late 1980s we ran a fitness […]
Prospecting Webinars Boost Wellness Participation in the New Year
January is a perfect time to offer webinars that highlight your services and programs throughout the year. These prospecting sessions are overviews of what’s available — with enough details to hook potential participants, but not so much they don’t feel a need to come back for more. Some guidelines: Make the topic timely. Use headlines […]
Top 10 Ways to Boost Intrinsic Motivation
Our upcoming white paper: Intrinsic Motivation: The Foundation of Outstanding Well-Being Programs delves into the science supporting this model. Here’s an excerpt with steps to shift your programming in an intrinsic direction starting today. Find out what obstacles employees face (they don’t feel they have enough time or they perceive activities as too costly) and […]
Happiness Is… Being Self-Sufficient
Along with having a big life outside work, we notice the happiest well-being managers don’t have their whole identity wrapped up in their job. They show a quiet confidence to make it, no matter what comes their way. Some suggestions to boost your self-sufficiency: Gift list. Make a list of things you’d take with you […]
How and Why to Foster Lifelong Learning at Work
Nora, a recently promoted team lead, has an insatiable drive to learn. Since joining the company, she has accessed many in-house learning opportunities, along with tuition reimbursement for online classes. She’s excited about her role as well as those opportunities for career development… and it shows. After 2 years, Luke is getting bored with his […]
Inspire Action With Wellness Testimonials
Well-being pros enjoy sharing practical tips for healthy living; yet sometimes the most compelling messages come from participants. We can talk ourselves hoarse about good nutrition, smart eating habits, and fitness, but our words may be met with skepticism simply because people think wellness leaders don’t face the same struggles as they do. Eat more […]