Engaging Consumers@Work

Engaging Consumers@Work (EC@W) is a comprehensive workplace wellness research pilot that demonstrated with employers the effectiveness of the WalkingWorks physical activation program in conjunction with health-related educational messaging. Supported by rigorous research from BCBSA and the Harvard Medical School Department of Healthcare Policy, the pilot has been proven to increase employee engagement in their personal health. This report outlines detailed findings, methodology and implications from the EC@W study, which showed positive changes in physical activity, program awareness, program participation and employee perceptions of employers.

Key findings include:

• Education combined with an activation program is more effective than education alone;
• Knowledge and awareness of health-related information improved post-intervention;
• Employees are more likely to remember in-home communication than worksite materials.

Key implications for employers and health plans include:

• Incorporate activation components into health and wellness programming to drive greater employee engagement;
• Expand educational health-related messaging;
• Internal promotion and communication of worksite programs is critical to increase participation and ensure program success.

View full 2008 EC@W report (PDF)