Why Wellness?
There are a number of reasons why Employee Wellness Plans are beneficial.
1. Improved Morale – When the organizational culture begins to change as a result of your health promotion efforts, you and your staff
members may actually start to see and feel a new level of energy within the company. 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 staff members.
2. Reduced Turnover – As we all know, staff member replacement costs can be quite high for any kind of company. The effort and expense
associated with running employment ads, reading applications, checking references, interviewing qualified candidates, hiring and training a
new staff member can be a serious burden on any company. In light of the challenges that high staff member turnover pose, many companies
are looking to health promotion programs as an additional perk that can help to prevent staff members from jumping ship.
3. Improved 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 staff member misses work in a company 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 decreasing
absenteeism.
5. Health Care Cost Containment – Most 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. Improved staff member Health Status – One of the greatest advantages of a well-designed Employee Health and Wellness Program is the
promise of enhanced health. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests well-designed Employee Wellness Plans can successfully
impact such behaviors as tobacco use, high-risk alcohol use, and more.
