Include Family Members

include-familyAnother way to increase engagement and improve program success is to include family members in program activities. The extension of services to family members has also been identified as an element of a culture of wellness.14 Studies have shown that when one spouse quits smoking, the other is more likely to follow suit, and that when one spouse exercises, the other is more likely to do so as well.15,16 Thus, extending services to families may encourage employees to engage in healthier behaviors. Furthermore, interventions that target diet will be less effective if they fail to include family members who may purchase or prepare employees’ food. As programs that offer services after work hours may also be seen as cutting into time that would normally be spent with family, inviting the entire family may overcome that barrier.