Worksite Wellness Ideas: Health Fairs

A wellness fair is a fantastic way to familiarize employees with health problems and related wellness programs. During a wellness fair employees might be able to obtain resource materials; take part in available health screenings (vision, hearing, blood, cholesterol, cancer, dental, etc.); observe demonstrations on the use of fitness equipment; attend mini-courses on various health topics; get no cost promotional materials from local corporations; sample healthy foods; and gather information about their health benefit plan. Some corporations host a “health & benefit fair” which includes vendors representing the various employee benefit plans (long-term disability, retirement, etc.) available to employees through their organization. Considerations when coordinating a wellness fair:

• Setting up a successful wellness fair takes extensive time. Time problems must be taken into account in planning and organizing such an event. The most time consuming part is generally contacting potential participants, making arrangements for their participation, confirming their participation, and setting up the day of the event.
• Sufficient space, tables and chairs must be available to allow for the number of vendors invited. Some vendors may have portable displays or materials that will require additional space, access to electrical outlets, or other logistical considerations that must be discussed prior to the wellness fair.
• Vendors will be trying to make contact with as many persons as possible during the event. Securing their responsibility to future wellness and health fairs requires that every effort be made to promote participation by publicizing the event, selecting the proper venue, and offering incentives/rewards.
• If possible, locate the wellness fair in an area with heavy foot traffic.
• Ask vendors to supply no cost materials at their table and to make a donation to a prize drawing. Adhere to all organization policies when seeking donations.
• As an idea to improve employee participation and to keep interest high, each attendee could be given a “passport”, similar to a bingo card, to be signed by each vendor. The signed passport becomes the ticket for the prize drawings. Such drawings must take place every 15 or 30 minutes.
• Consider teaming up with nearby corporations to stage a wellness fair. A group effort will spread out the work and maximize participation.

Ideas for a Benefits Fair: Include representatives from each of your employee benefits provider groups. Ask each vendor to be prepared to answer employee questions regarding their program. Representatives could include:

• Retirement plan representative.
• Long-term disability plan representative.
• Health plan representative.
• Health Benefits representative.
• Contract cell phone representative (if applicable).
• Local savings and loan or credit union representative.
• Workers’ compensation representative.

Limited Space for a Health Fair: If space is limited host the fair at lunchtime time. Place stations in organization hallways or in individual small conference or office rooms located throughout the building. Give a map with all the stations listed. Hold a no cost drawing awarding a prize for anyone who goes to 75 percent of the stations. Use a punch card or similar method to verify. Resources for health & benefit fairs coordination: Assume a broad definition of “health” and reflect that by involving a variety of vendors and services involved with physical, mental, economic and social health; for example, health agencies, safety corporations, benefits providers, local healthcare facilities, recreational facilities, parks, financial planners, childcare referrals, EAP, health clubs, health food stores, library, alternative and complementary medicine providers, etc.