Now is the time for behavior change
For all the ways COVID-19 has disrupted how we work, eat, and interact with friends, the presence of a global pandemic appears to have had a positive effect in at least one aspect of our life. By many measures, people are paying more attention to their personal health and well-being than ever before. Consider that downloads of home fitness apps have grown by 46% worldwide in recent months, or that 22% of Americans eat better now than they did before the pandemic.
For employers, there has never be a better opportunity to engage employees in their own well-being. That is particularly true in areas such as smoking, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure, which increase risks of severe illness from COVID-19.
Time and time again, health coaching has proven to be an effective strategy for people to make positive behavior changes while reducing health risks. Often health coaching is positioned as a compliance tactic in incentives, and not correctly promoted for the behavior change benefits. Recent data compiled by the Health Enhancement Research Organization on incentive effectiveness relative to overall program design, again supports that it takes more than just a large incentive to get people to maintain behavior change. It takes a health-supportive culture, strong communication, engaged leadership and sometimes just the right timing to get the right results.
Alyfe has seen first-hand how the tides may be shifting from purely compliance to creating a culture of change. One of Alyfe’s clients recently launched a coaching program that focused on reducing tobacco use in a population that was very high risk and didn’t have a strong history of engagement. While an incentive strategy supported 63% of identified tobacco users to sign up for coaching, more importantly, 72% of those participants have remained engaged with their coach for follow-up sessions.
Looking beyond the heightened awareness of health concerns, employees may also need coaching simply because they miss in-person interactions. Alyfe has also seen growing interest recently in safely managed onsite coaching sessions. Employees, who are tired of isolating at home and facing burnout from endless Zoom meetings, are embracing the opportunity to engage with another person face to face, even if those faces are covered with masks.
Creating a culture of health has never been more essential to an employer’s success. There is an opportunity to engage employees and help them address health factors that affect their personal and professional lives in the midst of chaos.
“ In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”