Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Memo
Memo
To:
From:
Date:
Subject:
SUMMARY
This memo recommends the conception of a new program based on the previous one. The
major improvements that will bring are related with the increase of the level of detail of the
exams, the inclusion of the employees spouse and improvement of confidentiality, an old
issue.
BACKGROUND
The Whirlpool Employee Wellness Program (EWP) has been a continuous success. Between
2009 and 2010, it is estimated to generated savings or cost avoidance of $6m and $7m,
respectively (IBI/NBCH Health and Productivty Forum, 2011)
This was a major driver for being one of the most admired companies and one of the best
places to work (Awards and Recognition, 2013).
DISCUSSION
In order to continue to grow, the program needs some adjustments and requires changes on
its concept. This new approach is the opportunity to rethink the programs strategy. First of all,
the new program will be more labour intensive. This means that it will require more staff
(nurses and support staff) and increase the attending hours so that spouses can come to the
centre after work. This has to be done prior to the launch of the program for the structure to
be prepared.
Another important topic is the intensity of the exams. Since there is already some level of
acceptance for the program, the employees should have the option to perform a much wider
range of exams. This could be beneficial on two aspects:
(1) it competes with other wellness programs
(2) A higher level of analysis also contributes for the validity and effectiveness of the
program.
Confidentiality is paramount. As before, it represents a critical path of this program. The new
program will need to continue to tackle this issue by reinforcing its focus on improving
customers trust.
It is expected that spouses participation will contribute to a larger impact on the program. By
including the spouses, the company is also creating a strong character around the importance
of the family wellbeing as a part of the employers performance.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Make sure that the infrastructure is prepared to deal with more customers. Hire more
nurses and staff, extended attending hours
2. New statements for the EWP.
a. Persuasive
b. Direct language
c. English American (since it is an American company)
d. Definition of a spouse keeping in mind sensitive issues with homosexual
couples that are not married
e. Cleary state the purpose, reasons and benefits.
f. Include a signature in the end
3. Internal press release to announce the changes and the improvements of the new
program.
4. Follow up in the week after the release. Contact employees to get feedback regarding
the launch of the new program.
5. Send a letter to employee families (addressed to both husband and wife)
6. In terms of actions to increase trust of confidentiality we have to:
a. Immediately after the exam, nurses will send the file directly to the patients
home in an envelope marked Strictly Private and Confidential or in
alternative through an electronic email or even a link only accessed through
password.
b. If problem is found, nurses will contact the employee directly by phone to
discuss options and the necessary medical advisement.
c. Somehow we receive a feedback from the last program that the company
doctors have been too involve so in this case their role will be less present
for a more private process.
7. The segmentation is required as follow:
a. Employees that have previously participate and do not have any
confidentiality issues.
b. Employees that did not participate in the last year
c. Spouses receptiveness in participate
TIMELINE
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REFERENCES
Awards and Recognition, 2013. Whirlpool Corporation. [Online]
Available at: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/about/awards_recognition.aspx
[Acessed at 6 Mar 2013].
IBI/NBCH Health and Productivty Forum, 2011. Whirlpool Corporations Journey to a Culture of
Health. [Online]
Available at: http://www.ibinbchforum.com/nbch/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000001688/JJawardWhirlpool%20v7%20-%20Banner%20%20FINAL.pdf
[Acessed at 6 Mar 2013].
Whirlpool Corporation
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