A needs assessment is an important tool in developing a worksite wellness program. The needs assessment should include a health risk appraisal, health culture audit, and an employee interest survey. Most worksite wellness program needs assesments begin with a health risk appraisal. In a health risk appraisal, employees answer questions about health behaviors and their readiness to make lifestyle changes. Medical screenings are also conducted and employees receive information on their risks (Goetzel & Ozminkowski, 2008). It is critical to remember health risk appraisals and health screenings are voluntary and confidential. It is up to the individual employee to decide whether or not to participate. Confidentiality can be maintained by receiving all data obtained from the health risk appraisal and employee screenings in aggregate form. Employees can be notified of their personal screening results directly from the company providing the screenings without involvement of the employer.
Health culture audits and employee interest surveys are other important parts of a needs assessment. A health culture audit will assess the organization’s culture as it pertains to health and productivity. Employee interest surveys provide information on what is important to employees, which is critical to developing a successful worksite wellness program with sustained high participation. The topics employees want to address may not be the same as the topics the employer thinks are most important. Participation rates may be quite low if employees are not interested in the programs being offered.