Using effective workplace wellness programs and policies can reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for your workers. Some of the benefits of incorporating wellness into your workplace can include:
- Lower employee stress.
- Better work-life balance.
- Employee retention.
- Positive work environment and culture.
- Increased productivity.
- Less absenteeism and increased presenteeism. Presenteeism refers to lost productivity when employees are not fully functioning at work due to illness, injury, or other conditions.
- Fewer medical costs because employees are healthier.
Building a program based on the needs of the employer and employees will put your workplace health programs on solid footing and enhance participation and long-term sustainability. One way to assist employees on their wellness journey is to create an environment that supports healthy habits. A few examples of this could be providing healthy options in vending machines or company-provided luncheons, allowing employees to take activity breaks during the day, or making access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) easy to use. These and other environmental or policy changes focus on providing employees with a proper foundation to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created a
Worksite ScoreCard Manual to help employers assess their health and wellness initiatives. This assessment tool reviews topics such as organizational support, tobacco use, physical activity, weight management, nutrition, and stress management, to name a few. In this manual are “Resources for Action” in each wellness topic, which provides employers with more information on getting started. Even if your workplace already has wellness at the forefront, it is always beneficial to assess where there may be gaps and where you’re excelling!
By, Coach Sarah