What is a wellness assessment?
A wellness assessment is a way for an organization to ensure its employees are healthy. In these assessments, health goes beyond whether or not someone is sick or ill to include having smart habits that maintain physical and mental health over time.
A wellness assessment evaluates an employee’s physical, mental, and social well-being. Some even go so far as to determine their environmental well-being. The resulting data can be used by management to formulate a program to help employees perform to the best of their abilities.
The assessment is carried out using corporate wellness software. These tools allow companies to organize, manage, and administer unique programs while encouraging employees to maintain healthy lifestyle choices. Wellness assessments can also be used to gauge how well a company supports the wellness of its employees.
Types of wellness assessments
There are two main types, each with a different intended purpose. The questions asked can vary based on that purpose, as well as the assessment’s intended audience:
- Workplace assessments: Determines the degree to which the workplace and employer support employee wellness through education, environment, company culture, and flexibility.
- Employee assessments: Gauges the employee’s wellness status by screening physical and mental health and wellness habits.
Benefits of wellness assessments
Administering these tests can be beneficial to employees and employers alike. Expected benefits include:
- Healthier, happier, more engaged employees: Employees who feel supported in their workplace will be happier and more involved at work. Healthy employees also tend to be more productive and engaged.
- Tailored programs: After gathering insight into employee wellness, employers can create customized programs to help employees overcome health obstacles and develop habits that support their long-term well-being.
- Monitors population health status: Employers use the data gathered from wellness assessments to monitor the overall health score of their workforce. This is key to recognizing the health of their team declines and deciding what initiatives are necessary to get it back on track.
- Productivity data: Assessments that include questions related to productivity can show employers the actual cost of poor workplace health practices.
Types of wellness assessment questions
Questions vary based on the type of assessment. Each type features questions in a few key categories:
- General questions: These questions pertain to workplace wellness, gathering information on how supported an employee feels from leadership, how the organization’s program is functioning, and what measures are being taken to support employee wellness.
- Physical activity questions: Gauge whether or not an organization supports physical wellness by discouraging sedentary behavior, providing flexible scheduling to allow for exercise, encouraging physical activity in the form of exercise messages and walk-and-talk meetings, discounted or on-site fitness centers, etc.
- Nutrition questions: Determine the healthy eating habits of employees and how well the company supports healthy eating.
- Health screening and disease prevention questions: Screen for health risks among employees. Organizations often provide free or discounted health screening and disease prevention services.
- Tobacco use: Employees are screened for potential tobacco use and offered support to quit smoking over time.
- Cardiac emergency response plan: These questions are intended for management to determine whether or not employees are prepared for potential cardiac emergencies. The plan consists of prearranged response plans, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, and the availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Wellness assessment best practices
An individual’s health and well-being are personal and must be taken seriously. The following best practices are crucial to helping employees create actionable change in their wellness:
- Privacy: The data involved in these tests is personal and private. Honesty is necessary for the assessments to be beneficial. Employees can only be honest if they know their personal data is safe and will not threaten their employment position.
- Holistic approach: Wellness must be approached holistically, taking into account all aspects of the individual’s health.
- Action plans: Employers must use the insights to create a work environment that promotes employee wellness. Action plans should include education initiatives, options for physical activity at work, and therapy or assistance options for those who need it.
Martha Kendall Custard
Martha Kendall Custard is a former freelance writer for G2. She creates specialized, industry specific content for SaaS and software companies. When she isn't freelance writing for various organizations, she is working on her middle grade WIP or playing with her two kitties, Verbena and Baby Cat.
