Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 21-02-2011
Small corporation health promotion programs are catching on. A well-designed health promotion program can increase productivity, increase morale and vitality, reduce stress, reduce rates of absenteeism, and control avoidable healthcare costs within an organization.
The beauty of it’s that you’re simply helping personnel to make smart options so the costs of beginning a wellness program are minimal compared to the benefits.
Employee health is a major concern for small organization owners. In a small shop, even a few sick staff members can disrupt the flow of the workplace and bring the operation to a standstill.
Instead of sitting back and hoping for the best, some owners are taking the matter of employee health into their own hands by starting employee wellness programs. Here is how they work . . .
Overview of worker health promotion programs
Employee health promotion programs are programs initiated by the business to improve the overall health of their labor force and to help individual workforce overcome specific health-related hurdles.
These health promotion programs could be offered in a variety of formats – In mandatory staff training sessions, as voluntary seminars, or through a third-party provider offering a wide-range of employee assistance programs.
In every case, nevertheless, the employer foots the bill for the health promotion programs because an investment in worker health is a company investment that directly impacts the organization’s bottom line.
Why offer employee health promotion programs?
Apart from the obvious concern for the health of your personnel, there are a few other reasons why employee health promotion programs make sense for small companies. Right off the bat, your corporation will benefit from the reduced level of absenteeism that goes hand in hand with a healthy workforce.
Wellness programs will also reduce the number of injuries that occur in the workplace, not just from accidents, but also from repetitive motion and other recurring sources.
Since even a minor blip in employee attendance can have a large impact on a small corporation, a more reliable workforce will inevitably translate into a smoother work cycle and a more robust bottom line.
Wellness Program Features
Health promotion programs can cover a broad range of health-related topics. Based on your employees’ needs, it’s entirely up to you to determine the kind of health promotion programming you want to offer.
Nevertheless, most employee health promotion programs offer some at least some health promotion programs in the following areas -
o Nutrition. Diet can significantly impact an worker’s ability to do their job effectively. Nutritional programs educate workforce about food options and equip them to make healthy dietary options.
o Fitness. In addition to diet, exercise is an important factor in a healthful lifestyle. Wellness programs frequently provide personnel with opportunities to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
o Smoking Cessation. Statistics prove that smokers tend to fall ill more frequently than their non-use of tobacco peers. Since sick employees disrupt the workplace, use of tobacco cessation programs are a no-brainer for both corporations and employees.
o Physiological Testing. Many companys offer physiological as a regular part of their wellness programs. Cholesterol tests, blood pressure screenings, and other simple exams can provide early warning signs for more serious problems.
o Stress Management. Stress itself takes a toll on staff members. Nevertheless, stress is also linked to other health problems like depression, cardiovascular illness, diabetes, and obesity. Wellness programs that help staff members deal with stress improve not only the psychological health of your staff members, but their physical health as well.