Corporate Wellness Blog

A wellness fair is an opportune way to familiarize employees with health issues and related wellness programs. During a wellness fair employees might be able to get resource materials; take part in offered health screenings (vision, hearing, blood, blood lipids, cancer, dental, etc.); observe demonstrations on the use of exercise equipment; go to mini-sessions on various health issues; get free promotional items from local corporations; sample healthy foods; and obtain information about their health benefit plan.

Some employers feature a “health & benefit fair” which includes vendors representing the various employee benefit plans (long-term disability, retirement, etc.) available to staff members through their organization.

Considerations when coordinating a wellness fair:

• Setting up a efficacious wellbeing and health fair takes extensive time. Time problems ought to 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 on hand 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 health and wellbeing fair.
• Vendors will be hoping to make contact with as many persons as possible during the event. Securing their responsibility to future health & wellness fairs requires that every effort be made to reward participation by publicizing the event, selecting the proper venue, and offering incentives.
• If possible, locate the wellness fair in an area with heavy foot traffic.
• Ask vendors to supply free materials at their table and to make a donation to a prize drawing. Follow all company policies when seeking donations.
• As an idea to improve employee participation and to maintain high interest levels, each attendee might 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 area organizations to host a health 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 ready to answer employee questions concerning their program. Representatives might 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 hold the fair at lunchtime time. Place stations in business hallways or in individual small conference or office rooms located throughout the building. Provide a map with all the stations listed. Have a free 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 employers, benefits providers, local health care facilities, recreational facilities, parks, monetary planners, childcare referrals, EAP, health clubs, health food stores, library, alternative and complementary medicine providers, etc.