Factors influencing successful planning and implementation and employee participation in worksite wellness programs

As the health of the nation continues to decrease and employers’ interests in cost savings and improved employee health increase, it is important to understand how workplaces can create a healthy workforce by planning and implementing successful wellness programs in which employees will habitually and voluntarily participate. The purposes of this research paper are to examine the factors influencing the successful 6 planning and implementation of worksite wellness programs and determine the major barriers for employee participation in these programs. Grawitch et al. (2009) states that it is important to understand there are many different approaches to success and what might work for one organization may not be successful in another, although once major barriers and influencing factors are identified, it will be easier for workplaces to understand how to elicit success in their health and wellness initiatives