Why Wellness?
There are a number of reasons why Corporate Wellness Programs are beneficial.
1. Enhanced Morale – When the organizational culture begins to change as a result of your health promotion efforts, you and your workers may actually begin to see and feel a new level of energy within the corporation. Ultimately, one of the most ambitious goals of any comprehensive health promotion program is to attempt to influence the attitudes and actions of the organization’s most valuable resource — its workers.
2. Reduced Turnover – As we all know, worker replacement costs can be quite high for any kind of corporation. The effort and expense associated with running employment ads, reading applications, checking references, interviewing qualified candidates, hiring and training a new worker can be a serious burden on any corporation. In light of the challenges that high worker turnover pose, many companies are looking to health promotion programs as an additional perk that can help to prevent workers from jumping ship.
3. Increased Recruitment Potential – In the midst of a very tight labor market, companies are forced to pull out the stops in order to recruit new talent. In some instances, Wellness can prove to be a very valuable tool in sealing the deal.
4. Reduced Absenteeism – When an worker misses work in a corporation setting, the entire organization is forced to absorb his/her responsibilities. Even in the event of the occasional absence caused by things like colds and the flu, work can back-up and tensions can build. Even worse is a long-term absence caused by a major health event that requires hospitalization and/or rehabilitation. By preventing certain types of illness caused by poor lifestyle habits, health promotion programs can play an important role in lowering rates of absence.
5. Health Care Cost Containment – The majority of companies don’t start a health promotion program with cost containment in mind. However, cost containment for certain health problems should be considered a viable goal by many companies.
6. Enhanced worker Health Status – One of the greatest advantages of a well-designed Corporate Wellness Program is the promise of enhanced health. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests well-designed Corporate Wellness Programs can successfully impact such behaviors as tobacco use, high-risk alcohol use, and more.
