With the rising cost of employee healthcare, increased competition for talented personnel, and increasing awareness of the dangers of a sedentary work life, many companies are looking for a way to protect the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of their most valuable asset. And, for many, this means introducing a corporate wellness program.
Admittedly, introducing such a program can be a costly endeavor. Why, then, are so many businesses–including Fortune 500 Companies–opting to launch corporate wellness programs?
Reduces Turnover
A well thought out, comprehensive wellness plan seeks to address all aspects of employee health–making it an attractive benefit for a vast majority of workers. This translates to an ability to not only secure outstanding talent but to also retain employees over the long term. In fact, as “Do Corporate Wellness Programs Actually Benefit Employees” reports, a study conducted by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health reveals that companies with effective wellness programs have significantly lower voluntary attrition rates than organizations without them. This, in turn, equates to less money spent on hiring and training and fewer interruptions in productivity.
Results in Healthier Employees
It only makes senses that physically, emotionally, and mentally fit employees are much more able to carry out their work duties than their less healthy counterparts. The question is “do corporate wellness programs actually have a positive impact on their participants’ health?” Research is showing that the answer is a resounding “yes.” As a matter of fact, according to the Harvard Business Review, one study reported that when a group of high-risk employees completed a six-month wellness program, 57 percent were converted to a low-risk status–translating to a decrease of $1421 in yearly medical claim costs per participant.
Fosters a Healthier Work Environment
A comprehensive corporate wellness plan should be accompanied by a healthy shift in the company’s culture as a whole. If you are encouraging employees to lose weight or lower their salt intake, for example, it is counterproductive to have vending machines full of chocolate bars and potato chips and a cafeteria that serves a menu of deep-fried foods.
And, as Fortune points out, being mindful of workplace noise, encouraging regular and appropriate breaks, offering in-house workout spaces, and instituting a no-smoking policy are other ways that a corporation can foster wellness.
This complete shift in culture will make for a healthier workforce who are adept at working together towards a common goal.
Nurtures a Happier Workplace
It’s hard to be positive when you ache physically, emotionally, or mentally. And the negativity that results from ill health is contagious. Conversely, when someone feels great, they are more likely to possess an optimistic, motivated attitude. And this, too, can spread like wildfire.
Furthermore, as individual employees tackle and overcome fitness goals, their overall level of self-efficacy increases. As a result, they are more likely to perceive work-related targets as doable, significantly enhancing their job performance.
A comprehensive corporate wellness program, therefore, can transform your company’s culture into one of infectious positivity and convert fractured departments into one cohesive team.
While the introduction of a corporate wellness program does involve a substantial investment, it has the potential to yield extremely positive results. Take a look at these 16 Companies With Awesome Workplace Wellness Programs for some more ideas. Before, dismissing it as a waste of company resources, be sure to carefully consider and weigh the benefits. And, remember, that your workforce is your organization’s most valuable asset.
Has your company instituted a Corporate Wellness Program? What features have benefitted you the most? Why?