There’s a reason why around 80 percent of America’s large employers offer workplace wellness programs. When done right, these initiatives can help people mitigate the everyday stresses of work, plus feel happier and healthier. Wellness programs encourage employees to take better care of themselves, and a healthier workforce often means a healthier bottom line.
A wellness program can be any kind of company-sponsored initiative intended to promote the health and wellness of employees. Gym memberships, on-site fitness facilities, smoking cessation programs, wellness challenges, nutrition education, employee assistance programs (EAPs), free subscriptions to wellness apps, and stress management activities are all examples. Even a concerted effort to provide healthier snacks on the job can be part of a wellness initiative.
Here’s a closer look into the many benefits workplace wellness programs can yield. If you don’t already have something in place, the following arguments might compel you to make this worthwhile investment.
Reduces absenteeism
Corporate wellness programs have been shown to reduce absenteeism. Since a well-rounded wellness program can support staff in being more active and taking care of their health, it stands to reason that this leads to fewer sick days and injuries.
Wellness programs can help people manage on-the-job stress via opportunities to take better care of themselves. Prolonged stress can easily lead to burnout, reduced productivity, and lengthy or frequent absences from work. By providing a range of options for employees to practice self-care, long-term sick leave may be avoided.
Improves retention
Employee turnover can be incredibly costly—about one-and-a-half to two times the quitting employee’s salary. Anything you can offer to improve retention should therefore be seriously considered, and a wellness program is a benefit that many employees appreciate. It can tip the scale in your favor with employees who may be considering leaving. Instituting such a program tells employees that you value them, and not only for what they do on the job. Wellness programs send the message that the company cares about the health and wellbeing of its people and wants them to be at their best.
The trick is to design a wellness program that is relevant to your employees and that provides benefits they consider valuable. Conducting an assessment of your workforce’s needs—including employee surveys and health risk assessments—can help you design a successful program that employees will actually take advantage of.
Attracts talent
Attracting new talent can be a challenge in some industries. Job hunters with in-demand expertise will weigh more than the starting salary when they decide where to apply. When a benefits package includes an obvious focus on wellness, this may be the extra push the candidate needs to choose your company.
While most candidates want to get ahead in their career, they are also interested in maintaining a reasonable work-life balance, too. That means they are more eager to consider employers that offer perks like onsite health clinics, free gym memberships, or similar benefits. This illustrates that the enterprise takes employee wellness seriously, and it can add up to considerable cost savings for the new hire.
Enhances company reputation
Companies that treat their employees right—by compensating them fairly and offering good benefits—enjoy a better reputation in their industry. Certainly, that solid reputation can help attract talent, but it does much more. The standing that the organization has in the marketplace is higher since the corporate image is strengthened.
Consumers care about how companies treat their employees, now more than ever. People want to do business with ethical companies, and if they are seen to be treating their staff right, that’s a good indication.
Raises morale
It’s difficult to feel motivated and engaged at work when your physical and mental health is suffering. Employee morale can improve when people are not only encouraged, but supported in their efforts to achieve their wellness goals. People usually feel happier and more engaged in all aspects of their life when they are taking care of themselves physically and mentally.
In addition, the personal growth that comes from learning and applying lessons about wellness can be deeply satisfying. Wellness programs that include gamified experiences—for example, fitness challenges—can enhance teamwork as well.
Boosts productivity
Overall productivity tends to increase when employees are empowered to take better care of their physical and mental health. Absenteeism tends to decrease, people are more likely to be rested and energized, and they are ultimately more prepared to do their jobs. Employees who are able to be fully present at work tend to make fewer mistakes and have fewer injuries as well.
Wellness is a win for all Wellness programs are wins for everyone involved: your company, your employees, and even your customers. It’s often said that any company’s most important asset is its people. If this is true, a wellness program is a wise investment indeed.
Bill Malloy 