BB&E are important, but they aren't everything

Three basic components ground effective employee wellness programs. I know them as blood, broccoli and exercise, or BB&E:

Blood is shorthand for biometric screenings, evaluations that measure vital signs like body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol. Typically, these tests are part of a wellness visit with a primary care provider.The factors measured by a biometric screening can be predictors of chronic illness. Employees who know their current numbers are more likely to take an active part in managing them, creating better quality of life and lowering their risk of chronic illnesses that can be costly to manage. From a plan administration perspective, biometric screenings can be easily measured and tracked over time, illustrating direct ROI from the program.
Broccoli is shorthand for health risk assessments, or questionnaires distributed to employees that gauge their propensity for healthy living.If you rolled your eyes at the thought of a health risk assessment, I understand. These assessments can be inaccurate if employees worry that they might be punished for bad habits. However, with effective messaging and mutual trust, these assessments work hand-in-hand with biometric screenings to measure the success of a program and ensure participants are aware of their potential risk for chronic or acute health issues.
Exercise, shorthand for physical activity tracking, refers to the part of your wellness program that offers rewards for check-ins at a local gym, hosts office weight loss challenges and offers free activity trackers to employees trying to get active.When managed effectively with understanding and support, physical activity tracking can be a team-building exercise as well as an opportunity to improve your workforce's health.

The preventable illnesses identified and managed with BB&E are a burden for both the employee and the employer, so rewarding good habits is mutually beneficial. After all, chronic diseases and related lifestyle issues are the largest driver of health care-related costs for employers—both in lost productivity and the cost of health insurance premiums and employee medical claims.

Instant Insights /

Beyond the 3 pillars of effective employee wellness programs

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