Getting Started with WHP

Getting Started with WHP

What's the best way to start with WHP — concretely, in the first week?

The WHP launch works in five steps: assess your status, run an assessment, document existing benefits, plan an initial employee survey, and launch a first visible initiative — doable in week one, with no budget or prior knowledge needed.

Where do most companies stand with WHP?

There are three typical starting points: companies with no WHP at all are best off starting with an assessment of their current status. Companies with isolated WHP measures (fruit baskets, company runs) should document these first before expanding. Companies that have already run surveys but lack a system benefit most from building up a further pillar in a structured way — for example the psychosocial risk assessment in occupational safety.

Which five steps get you started with WHP?

  • Sign up and assess your status (a few minutes) — establish a starting point
  • Complete an assessment — know your own WHP maturity level
  • Document existing benefits/measures — get an overview of what's already in place
  • Plan a first employee survey — involve employees, identify needs
  • Launch a first visible initiative — a tangible early win, regardless of company size

Why does getting started with WHP often stall?

A common reason WHP initiatives never get off the ground is the assumption that you first need a large budget, a dedicated WHP manager, or full sign-off from management. None of that is needed to get started: a rough estimate of sick-leave levels is enough for the start, and the first steps can be taken without any approval process.

Key takeaways

  • Five steps are enough to get started with WHP: assess your status, complete an assessment, document benefits, plan a survey, launch a first initiative
  • No budget, no prior knowledge, and no management sign-off needed to begin
  • Estimates (e.g., for sick-leave levels) are entirely sufficient to get started
  • A visible early win in week one matters more than a perfect plan

Frequently asked questions

Do I need prior knowledge to get started with WHP?+

No. A structured assessment walks you step by step through the relevant topics — expertise is provided along the way, not assumed beforehand.

How much time should I plan for in the first week?+

Realistically 1–2 hours spread across the week: assessment (about 7 minutes), documenting benefits (about 10 minutes), planning the first survey (about 15 minutes), with the rest for the first initiative.

Does management need to be involved from the start?+

Not necessarily to get started — the first steps (assessment, stocktaking) can be carried out independently. For systematic expansion, especially budget decisions, management's backing becomes important, though.

Take Your First WHP Step in 10 Minutes

EasyWHP guides you step by step through the assessment — free, no prior knowledge needed.

Sources

Last updated: 2026-07-06. Not legal or tax advice — have your specific case reviewed by a professional.

Read more

BGM-Kompass covers German workplace health management (BGM): funding paths, figures and legal references (e.g. § 20b SGB V, § 3 No. 34 EStG, § 167 SGB IX, the statutory-health-insurer prevention guidelines) apply to Germany.