Most people spend more hours at work than anywhere else in addition to the time they spend commuting each day. In fact, the typical American works approximately 47 hours a week which is at least 164 hours more than the average 20 years ago. Given these statistics, it is easy to see why maintaining a healthy work / life balance is becoming increasingly important. Corporate wellness programs important tools to establish this balance. Programs that emphasize the benefits of corporate wellness can be implemented in a variety of ways. However, they all share a common goal ? to promote the well-being of their employees, employers and organization in general. Many companies are starting to realize the tremendous benefits of corporate wellness.
One of the primary benefits of corporate wellness involves a reduction in the rates of illness and injuries among employees. Unhealthy employees experience a wide range of work-related injuries such as muscle strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, stress fractures or back pain. These individuals are also susceptible to developing complications such as diabetes, heart disease or a stroke. Employees without the opportunity to participate in corporate wellness programs may develop serious illnesses. Consequently, they could find themselves on long-term disability for an extended period of time or be forced to discontinue working entirely.
In addition to preventing illnesses amongst employees, corporate wellness programs also lead to a reduction in employee absenteeism. Employees who are stressed, unhealthy or overworked tend to become sick much more often than healthy employees. When programs that focus on the benefits of corporate wellness are implemented, this rate can be drastically reduced. For example, Coors Brewing Company experienced a remarkable 18% decrease in employee absenteeism after implementing a corporate wellness program within their workplace.
Another benefit of corporate wellness programming is a reduction in the cost of healthcare. When employees are healthy and less stressed they tend to rely less on costly programs such as disability insurance and sick leave. Companies will notice a significant decrease in healthcare costs once they incorporate wellness programs into their workplace. For example, after implementing a fitness program in which only 60% of the employees participated, Coca-Cola was able to save $500 per employee every year.
Increased productivity is another benefit of corporate wellness. Employees who are happy and healthy tend to produce a greater volume of work at a higher quality than unhealthy employees. Employers need to realize that implementing programs that lower fitness and stress levels will increase the overall output of their employees.
Corporate wellness programs also contribute to the enhanced retention of key employees. Companies that implement wellness programs normally experience a much lower rate of employee turnover. Recruiting, marketing and advertising for vacant positions are very costly, not to mention time-consuming. If your employees are happy and healthy and enjoy working at your company, you will be able to focus more time and energy on actually getting the job done.
The bottom line is you should take advantage of the benefits of corporate wellness. Make it a goal to implement a program as soon as possible - don't wait until most of your employees are stressed, sick or applying to other jobs. You will experience a reduction in employee injuries, illness, absenteeism and healthcare costs, as well as an increase in employee retention and productivity. Assuming responsibility for establishing a healthy, harmonious working environment will allow everyone to enjoy the benefits of corporate wellness.
Companies are instituting corporate wellness programs, often with mixed results. The idea behind a corporate wellness program is actually quite solid: these programs are opportunities for employees to get the help they need to prevent illness.
The general idea of a corporate wellness program is that since as many as 80% of illnesses can be avoided with some preventative care, more attention to corporate fitness can improve productivity, reduce company costs, and can result in happier employees.
While some corporate wellness programs seem to be doing just fine, they are the minority. Some studies have suggested that only about 1 out of 9 corporate wellness programs are seen as successful. This means that many corporate wellness programs are costing money but not producing desired results.
In fact, some employers report that expensive employee exercise and employee wellness programs are used by only a tiny minority of employees - usually those employees who are already fit. Many companies that have invested in a corporate wellness program find that their workers are as unhealthy as ever!
What is behind this alarming trend in corporate wellness programs? Research by Golding Corporate Wellness, Inc (http://www.corporate-wellness-mistakes.com/) has revealed specific factors that lead to unsuccessful corporate wellness programs:
1. Not investing in corporate wellness programs. Even today, many companies simply do not pay enough attention to worksite wellness to institute a corporate wellness program. The first step to a successful corporate wellness program, then, is to create a solid one. GCW, Inc. can help if you are having trouble getting started.
2. Investing only in employee exercise facilities. Many companies mistakenly assume that building employee exercise rooms or getting employee gym memberships means a corporate wellness program. This is not the case. The key to corporate wellness programs is to have a whole-health approach that makes it easy for employees to get fit and stay healthy. Your corporate wellness program should appeal to all workers, not just to the athletic. This means setting up programs that are attractive to employees and it means doing research ahead of time to find out which corporate wellness programs may appeal to the company's employees.
3. Having a corporate wellness program that does not provide education. Any corporate wellness regimen should include easy access to information. Employees should know all about the benefits of corporate wellness programs, should know how to exercise and should have all the information they need to make healthy decisions on the job and at home. This part of corporate wellness programs can even include workplace safety information.
If your corporate wellness program is not working, it is the approach and not the corporate fitness philosophy itself that may be to blame. A few simple changes may be all it takes to start seeing some smiles at the office!
Both John Payton & Ken Golding are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
John Payton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Quit Smoking, Mental Health and Health. John Payton a staff writer for , located in Winston Salem, NC. His company is a one of a kind, independent wellness consulting agen. John Payton's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
Ken Golding has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health. Ken Golding is President of Golding Corporate Wellness, Inc., a company that helps executives achieve financial return on their