A workplace wellness program is an organized initiative to help staff members in establishing healthier lifestyles. This can include improving staff member awareness on health topics, making available behavior change programs, and/or beginning corporate policies that support health-related goals. Employee Health Promotion programs and policies that encourage a higher level of physical activity, tobacco use cessation and prevention, and healthier food choices are a few examples.
The Dimensions of Wellness
Wellness is more than just being eating right and exercising regularly. The wellness dimensions may include:
• The Spiritual Wellness,
• The Emotional Wellness,
• Social Wellness
• The Intellectual Wellness and
• Physical Wellness.
These wellness dimensions are often shown as a “wellness wheel” with examples of the components of wellness that include nutrition, fitness purpose of life, financial planning, support systems & social connections, stress management, mind-body health, continued learning and career planning. The key to individual wellness is maintaining a balanced “wellness wheel”. A truly comprehensive corporate wellness program addresses most, if not all, of these wellness dimensions.
Why Have an Employee Wellness Program?
Employees spend a great deal of time at work, and research continues to show that our long-standing work-week is increasing. In addition, the typical U.S. adult now works approximately 47 hours each week. Additionally, technologies such as laptop computers, mobile phones, email and voice have blurred the boundary between home and work life. These realities reduce the amount of time that the average American is able to devote to healthy activities, and yet staff members are expected to be at peak performance when on the job.
A study by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses found that Workplace Health Promotion Programs are successful in assisting staff members make positive health changes due to numerous factors such as environmental support, convenience and co-worker or social acceptance.
What’s the Connection between Wellness / Health and the Workplace?
Workplace Health Promotion Programs and Policies that encourage healthy behaviors can make a significant impact on employee health and wellness AND have an impact on the corporation’s bottom line. Research studies have shown that for every dollar invested by companies in Workplace Health Promotion Programs, there were cost reductions ranging from $1.49 to $4.91 with the average corporate wellness program return-on-investment(ROI) being $3.14*. In organizational terms, that’s more than a 3:1 minimum health promotion return-on-investment(ROI) – a number that is difficult to ignore, and a best practice that should warrant serious consideration from companies. Additionally, a Worksite Health promotion program literature review posted in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found:
• 19 studies found a 28.3 percent reduction in sick time
• 16 studies found a 5.6:1 return-on-investment(ROI)
• 23 studies found a 26.1 percent reduction in medical costs
• 4 studies found a 30 percent reduction in direct medical and workers’ compensation claims
There is no doubt that a Worksite Wellness Program targeted to meet a corporation’s specific needs can save money by decreasing absenteeism, decreasing health care costs, decreasing staff member turnover, and increasing productivity.
For assistance in improving a Worksite Wellness Program or to get free health promotion proposals you can visit www.WellnessProposals.com or www.InfiniteWellnessSolutions.com
* US Department of Health & Human Services, 2003
About the Author:
Written by John Bates a wellness program expert and entrepreneur that owns /operates more than 200 health and wellness related websites.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – What Is A Worksite Wellness Program?
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