Determining a budget for establishing a Wellness Program

Creating a Wellness Program need not be expensive, but will require the commitment of some financial resources. If possible, include the Wellness Program in your corporation’s annual business plan and budget as you do for other efforts important to your corporation’s success.

How much to budget for the Corporate Health Promotion Program?

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for establishing a Wellness Program that results in enhanced employee health. Organizations differ in how much money they need and how much they can make available for the Corporate Health Promotion Program. Consider the following common expenses in developing an adequate Wellness Program budget:

• Wellness Program staffing costs (either internal salaries or consultant fees)
• Wellness Program data collection costs (including health risk assessment costs, if relevant)
• Wellness Program incentives and rewards for healthy behaviors (such as discounts on premiums for non-smokers)
• Costs of Wellness Program Procedures to be started (such as costs of covering tobacco quit medications or costs of subsidizing healthy foods in the cafeteria or vending machines)
• Wellness Program administrative and communications expenses

In times of tight finances, be prepared to justify your requested Wellness Program budget. Arm yourself with data on potential short- and long-term outcomes of the proposed Wellness Program Procedures. Itemize the Wellness Program expenses of past programs and share projected expenses for programs planned for the upcoming year.

Sustaining Wellness Program Funding

A dedicated Wellness Program line item in your corporation’s budget makes it more likely to be regarded as a need, rather than as a “nice-to-have” amenity that could be cut when funds run low.

One of the best Procedures for ensuring continued financial support for the Wellness Program is frequent communication to upper management, including:

• How many employees have you reached through the Corporate Health Promotion Program? Has morale increased? Have health risks decreased, e.g., fewer employees using tobacco, more employees active?
• How well are you managing the Wellness Program resources you’ve been given? Where and how has your budget been spent? Keep track of the staff time necessary for each program and be able to present the numbers at any time.
• Anecdotal Wellness Program success stories from employees. Don’t underestimate the power of a good story to put a human face on your success.

Additional sources of Wellness Program Funding

If necessary, have the individuals accountable for establishing a Wellness Program look for ways to supplement available internal funds. Are there grants or other financing available that can help support your Wellness Program ? What community Wellness Program resources could you use to meet some of your needs?