Your onsite clinic and its providers are your in-house resource for wellness and employee engagement. By tapping into their expertise, you can unlock the full potential of your benefits program while encouraging healthier habits for the long run. Collaboration between HR and clinic staff not only improves clinic utilization, but also strengthens the culture of wellness across your organization. Here are some ways to get started.
Host a “Lunch and Learn”
They say there is no such thing as a free lunch, but a “lunch and learn” sponsored by your benefits team in partnership with the clinic providers might be the exception. Ordering catering from a local healthy restaurant (or organizing a potluck) makes the event inviting, while the provider-led discussion gives employees practical health insights they can apply immediately.
Your employee health center vendor can help you determine the right focus areas for your workforce, whether that’s diabetes prevention, stress management, or nutrition tips. After the presentation, gather informal feedback from attendees. Ask whether they found the content useful, if they have visited the clinic before, and what other topics interest them. This simple event accomplishes multiple goals at once: employees receive a nutritious meal, learn about a relevant health topic, and walk away more aware of the onsite clinic’s offerings.
Action Step: Plan a 45-minute “Lunch and Learn” session with your clinic team by choosing a timely health topic and selecting a date at least 4 weeks in advance. Coordinate catering (or a potluck sign-up), promote the event in internal channels, and create a short feedback form to collect employee input afterward. Aim to host at least one session per quarter to build clinic visibility and keep wellness education ongoing.
Design a Wellness Challenge Together
Wellness challenges are a great way to engage employees, especially when providers are involved. Whether it is a step challenge, hydration tracker, or mindfulness streak, the clinic team can add credibility and expert guidance. They can help develop challenge parameters, share quick educational tips during the event, and even provide biometric screenings before and after to measure impact.
Action Step: Schedule a 30-minute planning session with your onsite clinic team to co-create your next wellness challenge. Use the time to align on goals, challenge structure (e.g., steps, hydration, mindfulness), and how the clinic can support with education, biometric screenings, or weekly tips. Bonus: Create a pre- and post-challenge survey to track outcomes.
Bring Health to Existing Engagement Activities
Not every initiative needs to stand alone. If your organization already hosts events like company picnics, team-building activities, or benefit fairs, consider looping in the clinic team. Providers can set up an information table, lead a brief stretching session, or offer on-the-spot blood pressure checks. These small touches weave health into the fabric of everyday work life without requiring employees to carve out extra time.
Action Step: Invite a clinic provider to participate in your next employee event. Whether it’s leading a 15-minute stretch at a staff meeting or setting up a health check station at your next company picnic, find a way to embed wellness where employees are already gathered. Coordinate a simple touchpoint that makes health feel accessible and effortless.
Strengthen the Partnership
The most successful wellness initiatives are those that feel authentic and accessible. By partnering closely with clinic providers, HR teams can ensure programming resonates with employees while also highlighting the clinic as a convenient, trusted resource. Over time, this collaboration helps build a workplace culture where employees feel supported not only in their jobs but also in their overall well-being.
Action Step: Host a quarterly HR + Clinic check-in to brainstorm new ways to collaborate. Use this time to review participation data, gather feedback from employees, and plan upcoming wellness touchpoints. Building intentional, ongoing communication with your clinic team ensures programs stay relevant, visible, and people-centered.
References:
Goetzel, R. Z., & Pronk, N. P. (2010). Worksite health promotion: How much do we really know about what works? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(2), S223–S225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2009.10.032
Society for Human Resource Management. (2022). Optimizing for Employee Well-Being: A Holistic Approach for HR Leaders. SHRM. https://www.shrm.org/labs/resources/optimizing-for-employee-well-being-a-holistic-approach-for-hr-leaders-pt3
