7 Benefits of a Corporate Wellness Program

Corporate wellness programs can help a companys employees become happier, healthier and more productive. Learn how a successful corporate wellness program can benefit your organization by:

1. Reducing Healthcare Costs

Wellness programs are demonstrated to have a healthy return on investment. They are a good way for companies to combat insurance premiums that are rising out of control. In the case of health insurance premiums, quantifiable savings can be measured over time. Immediate savings may not appear evident due to the time it takes for employees to benefit from healthier lifestyle choices; however, intangibles in overall company costs are just as important. The rest of this list details these other benefits that often go overlooked because they are hard to quantify on a company balance sheet.

2. Reducing Employee Illness and Absenteeism

The common cold, a nasty flu, obesity or chronic illness - these are a few of the many reasons, small and large, why employees are absent from work. There are just as many small changes in lifestyle that can influence overall health and well-being. A program that includes education, training and professional health care can greatly reduce absenteeism. And when employees come to work sick, other employees often become sick who otherwise wouldnt have.

3. Reducing Presenteeism

Are your employees at work but "out of it." Presenteeism is the problem of workers being on the job but, because of medical conditions or emotional stress, not fully functioning. Individual productivity can be cut by one-third or more when employees struggle through the work day with frequent sinus problems, migraines or other conditions that go untreated, not to mention the distractions from personal stresses such as ill family members or troubled relationships. The result is a worker who is showing up but not fully contributing up to their full potential.

4. Increasing Productivity

One of the main goals of a corporate program is to encourage employees to lead healthier lifestyles. It is shown in study after study that when an employee is healthy, they are also more productive. Healthy employees demonstrate higher levels of concentration, higher energy levels and increased output. Education, incentives and health care directed by a successful wellness program will help ensure employees perform consistently and at the optimum level.

5. Disease Prevention

Beyond helping workers be more productive, programs like this may save lives. For example, a Wyoming Department of Health report cites a study of a Salt Lake City, Utah worksite wellness program that showed participants significantly reduced the rates of chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. Consequently, these programs reduce the costs of sick leave, lost productivity, and medical claims.

6. Improving Workplace Morale

The effectiveness of a program in terms of the office environment is simple. Employees who are healthy are a whole lot happier. They are aware that the company is taking measures to ensure their health and well-being. And, wellness programs help foster co-worker camaraderie. Social groups like sports teams and walking clubs allow employees to experience activities in non work-related settings that build teamwork and reduce everyday stress.

7. Reducing Worksite Injuries

Fit workers have fewer on-the-job injuries. According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, there is a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of workplace injuries among those who participate in a corporate wellness program.

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