Assessing employee wellness needs at colleges and universities: A case study

Abstract

One of the most important factors in a successful employee wellness program includes strategic planning and assessment on the part of the employer prior to the initiation of a program. A needs assessment is crucial for colleges and universities who wish to develop programs catering to the wide range of employee types, interests, and backgrounds within their educational institution. This study sought to evaluate the interest levels of 438 employees at one university in the United States across 15 different wellness program areas. Participants in this case study completed a 33-question survey designed specifically for the study that focused on three broad components of personal wellness; the physical, nutrition, and personal lifestyle. It was discovered that strength training, stress reduction, and managing overall wellness were the three most desirable programs. Overall interest in programming was high (>95%), and participants were found to be significantly more interested in lifestyle programming over physical activity and nutrition (Λ = .35, F(2, 362) = p < .001, η2 = .64). Findings indicate the importance of investigating employee interest prior to developing wellness programming, which could facilitate participant engagement and adherence to the programs. University administrators who wish to create employee physical activity programs should assess the unique and specific needs of their employees as opposed to students in order to serve, accommodate, and build successful programs that can have a lasting effect on their employees’ wellness.

Keywords

• worksite safety & health
• university health
• employee wellness
• health research