Wellness Library : Workplace Wellness Programs

Small business wellness programs are catching on. A well-designed wellness program has the potential to increase productivity, boost morale and vitality, reduce stress, cut absenteeism, and control preventable healthcare expenditures within a business. The beauty of it is that you’re simply supporting workers to make smart choices so the expenditures of implementing a wellness program are minimal compared to the benefits.

Employee health is a major problem for small company owners. In a small company, even a few sick staff members have the potential to disrupt the flow of the workplace and bring the operation to a standstill.

Rather than sitting back and hoping for the best, some small company owners are taking the matter of employee health into their own hands by starting Worksite Health Promotion Programs. Here’s how they work.

Overview of Worksite Wellness Programs

Employee wellness programs are programs initiated by the employer to better the overall health of their labor force and to help individual workers overcome specific health-related hurdles. These programs have the potential to be provided in a variety of formats: In mandatory employee training meetings, as voluntary sessions, or through an outside provider offering a wide-range of EAPs.

In every case, however, the organization foots the bill for the programs because an investment in employee health is a organization cost that directly impacts the organization’s bottom line.

Why offer Workplace Health Promotion Programs?

Apart from the obvious issue for the health of your workers, there are numerous other reasons why Worksite Wellness Programs make sense for small businesses. Right off the bat, your employer will profit from the decreased level of absenteeism that goes hand in hand with a healthy workforce.

Company Health Promotion Programs will also cut the number of injuries that occur in the workplace, not just from accidents, but also from repetitive motion and other recurring sources. Since even a minor blip in worker attendance is able to have a big impact on a small employer, a more reliable workforce will eventually translate into a smoother work cycle and a more robust bottom line.

Workplace Health Promotion Program Features

Company Health Promotion Programs can cover a broad range of health-related topics. Based on your workers’ needs, it’s completely up to you to figure out the kind of programming you wish to offer. However, most Company Health Promotion Programs offer some at least some programs in the following areas:

• Nutrition. Diet can significantly influence an employee’s ability to do their job effectively. Nutritional programs educate employees about diet options and equip them to make healthy dietary choices.
• Physical Fitness. In addition to diet, exercise is an valuable factor in a healthy lifestyle. Worksite Health Promotion Programs frequently support employees with opportunities to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
• Tobacco Cessation. Statistics prove that tobacco users tend to fall ill more frequently than their non-smoking peers. Since sick staff members disrupt the workplace, tobacco cessation programs are a no-brainer for both employers and staff members.
• Physiological Testing. Many employers offer physiological as a regular part of their wellness programs. Cholesterol tests, Blood Pressure screenings, and other simple exams can provide early warning signs for more weighty problems.
• Stress Management. Stress itself takes a toll on workers. Nonetheless, stress is also linked to other health problems such as depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Employee Health Promotion Programs that help workers deal with stress better not only the psychological health of your workers, but their physical health, too.

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