Health Handouts : Employee Wellness Program Goal Setting & Achievement Recognition Program

Every workplace will have employees who won’t take part in provided workplace wellness activities. But these same employees may be following a myriad of healthy practices in their daily living. A good wellness program ought to give these individuals credit and recognition for their good work.

Recognition of healthy goal setting and goal achievement is a good approach for reinforcing what individuals are doing on their own outside of work, and for reaching those who don’t like group activities. Suggested steps for individual goals/objectives and recognition include:
• A form employees can fill out which includes the set objective(s) and a target date for completion.
• Information on setting realistic goals and objectives, as individuals frequently overestimate what they can do and by when. It’s wonderful to remind workers “baby steps” count!
• Maintain a confidential file of the submitted employee objective forms in a dated “tickler” system.
• Send a reminder to each employee at the time of each participant’s goal date. This reminder might be a copy of their original goal form. Ask for employee’s feedback regarding their goal(s): completed the goal, need an extension, or have discontinued the goal.
• When the form is returned from an employee:
   1. If an employee has completed the goal, a certificate of completion is received along with a prize or incentive item linked to the goal (if possible).
   2. If the employee renegotiates the deadline or the goal, the form is re-filed for future follow-up. Continue to encourage the employee.
   3. If the objective is canceled, send a note acknowledging this “good try” and encourage the employee to try again when the timing is right.
• Allow those interested in this process to set goals/objectives any time and as often as they want.