{"id":15471,"date":"2017-07-10T22:34:29","date_gmt":"2017-07-10T22:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zeel.com\/blog\/?p=15471"},"modified":"2017-11-02T20:11:21","modified_gmt":"2017-11-02T20:11:21","slug":"health-fair-ideas-and-vendors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zeel.com\/blog\/workplace-wellness\/health-fair-ideas-and-vendors\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a Health Fair: 9 Questions to Ask Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hosting a company health fair is a great way to provide important wellness information to your employees in an engaging, interactive environment. Health fairs are complex, but planning a health fair doesn\u2019t have to be intimidating. Ask yourself these nine questions, and you\u2019ll be on your way to offering a health fair that is beneficial, valuable, and fun.<\/p>\n

Before<\/h2>\n

1. What is a health fair?<\/h3>\n

A health fair is an event in which you offer a collection of medical screenings, interactive booths, and educational wellness activities for your employees and\/or local community. It\u2019s usually part of a greater workplace wellness program. Health fairs are an effective way to engage your workers in their personal health (and if nothing else, distribute a bunch of cool swag and granola bars).<\/p>\n

2. Why should I hold a company health fair?<\/h3>\n

Company health fairs are an opportunity to make health information, resources, and screenings available to all of your employees in an efficient, one-stop manner. Focusing on health leaves employees feeling supported and valued by their company. Additionally, making healthcare and insurance resources available during company health fairs helps reduce absenteeism and lowers insurance costs.<\/p>\n

3. What does it take to plan a successful health fair?<\/h3>\n

Hosting an effective health fair takes time and planning, so ideally you\u2019ll have six months to a year to map out the entire event. A planning team of 3-8 people including managers and stakeholders in various departments will ensure that your health fair accomplishes its goals for your entire company.<\/p>\n

Highlight the fun in a health fair by selecting a seasonal theme around which to organize the occasion, like a Valentine\u2019s Day event that focuses on heart health (just one example). If you plan to focus your health fair on a certain aspect of health and wellness, like staying physically active, consider working with a local charity that champions the cause.<\/p>\n

4. When is the best time to have a health fair?<\/h3>\n

Many health fairs take place during the fall and early winter months. Usually, fall health fairs are scheduled specifically to overlap with open enrollment periods for healthcare plans. Your company\u2019s healthcare provider should be represented at a health fair, since employees will want to learn the details of available coverage and how they can best make use of the health insurance plans on offer. In order to host a company health fair in the fall, you and your team should start planning the event at the beginning of that calendar year.<\/p>\n

During<\/h2>\n

5. How long should my\u00a0health fair last?<\/h3>\n

Health fairs are typically hosted during the workday, since more employees are likely to attend if the event is on-site. A three- to four-hour window is recommended<\/a> \u2014 so you can easily fit all the activities into half of one business day. While planning your health fair, think about whether your employees will be more engaged (and awake) in the morning or afternoon. Vendor availability may also come into play in scheduling your event.<\/p>\n

6. What kinds of vendors should I\u00a0invite to a health fair?<\/h3>\n

The vendors at your health fair should represent your company\u2019s values and the interests of your employees. Medical screenings are a valuable way for your employees to assess their own health, and healthcare providers with local practices are a popular choice at company health fairs. Your company insurance provider should definitely have a presence at your health fair as well.<\/p>\n

Then branch out with other vendors that offer wellness-related products – anything from health-friendly snacks and local organic restaurants to bike stores and yoga instructors.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, make sure you include vendors covering multiple areas of health, from cardiovascular to dental and even mental wellness. Here are some ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n