Advantages of Workplace Wellness Programs
A workplace wellness programs is an organized and coordinated program that aims to enhance the physical, emotional and mental health of a person. Depending on the setting, it may also promote vocational and spiritual well-being. It is implemented by an employer to help employees overcome health-related problems, provide them with good medical care, encourage a lifestyle that includes balanced diet and proper exercise, and promote a positive mental outlook.
Advantages of Workplace Wellness Programs
Let us first discuss the advantages of a workplace wellness program and the steps for implementing one in your company.
More Productive Employees
A healthy lifestyle leads to increased productivity.
Less Office Stress
Offering workplace wellness programs may reduce stress and benefit your business.
Less Illnesses
Healthy practices prevents illness. No doubt, business proceeds as usual when less sick days are taken.
Fewer Injuries
Taking a break to exercise or just stretch prevents common office injuries, resulting in fewer worker compensation claims.
Happier Employees
Offering a wellness program leads to happier and more positive employees because they’re leading a healthy life.
Need For Wellness Programs
Employee wellness activities have become such sought-after benefits that employers spend much for workplace wellness programs :
Improving Your Bottom Line
Having an employee wellness plan can help you attract and retain good employees. It also provide benefits to the company that can clearly affect and improve your bottom line.
Lowering Absence
Employers have always struggled with absenteeism and the loss in productivity it causes. Yet, when workers come to work when they’re sick, they’re spreading germs. keeping employees healthier, can avoid this.
Improving Morale and Productivity
People who exercise are happier and have a more positive outlook, leading to more energy, better problem-solving and increased productivity among employees. Participating together in activities strengthens employee relationships and the company’s culture.
Increasing employee retention
Employees feel appreciated when their companies invest in their well-being with wellness programs. This, and their positive attitude towards their work, makes them more likely to stay at their jobs.
Saving money
Studies of the benefits that workplace wellness programs can bring to a business show that for every penny spent on wellness programs, employers save much in health care costs.
Keeping it Simple and Easy
Try to keep the program on a scale you can comfortably handle. Like for example, instead of holding a health fair which requires more time and resources; hiring nurses to provide vaccinations and take blood pressure readings is reasonable. Similarly, having an exercise room might not be possible but hiring a local yoga instructor once a while to teach stress-relieving poses, is not difficult to arrange.
Providing Help Beyond Physical Wellness
Most people think of workplace wellness programs as ones that concentrate on the physical health such as supplying means to exercise during the day, eating healthier or losing weight. But it is just as important for your employees to have good mental and emotional health. Perhaps organizations can provide a workshop on recognizing how stress affects mental health, and make that program compulsory for all to attend.
Incentives for Participation
Even though employees say they want their company to offer wellness activities, only a few actually take advantage of them after they’re initiated. So a good idea is to make these programs irresistible by rewarding the participants with prizes, cash points or paid time off.
Many organizations offer their employees a series of benefits and activities that promote health and well-being. It can be hard to see the advantages of a workplace wellness program, but the truth is healthy employees bring an array of benefits to the businesses they work for.
