Employee productivity is a significant component of a company’s success. Studies have shown that workplace wellness programs improve productivity. According to Corporate Wellness Magazine, studies show that workplace health and wellness programs are a good business investment. For every $1 invested in health and wellness programs, an employer can save about $4 to $5 due to reduced sick days and an overall healthier lifestyle adopted by employees.
Are your employees working when they are at work? When they are physically at work but not working, your company is experiencing what is called “presenteeism.” The cost to your company associated with presenteeism due to poor employee health is estimated to be at least 2 to 3 times greater than direct health care expenses.
Healthy Employees Are Productive Employees
In 2009, the research on workplace wellness programs had become so conclusive that the American Heart Association went so far as to publish a policy statement on the importance of employee wellness programs for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Among its multiple recommendations, the policy statement stated that any comprehensive program aimed at improving employees’ health should include tobacco cessation and prevention, regular physical activity, stress management and reduction, early detection and screening, nutrition education and promotion, weight management, disease management, education that includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training, and changes in the work environment to encourage healthy behaviors and promote occupational safety and health.
Before making a commitment to a new wellness program or modifying an existing one, conduct an evaluation of the health of your workforce. You need to know if your employees are taking too many sick days for preventable conditions or trying to manage high stress levels. Once you have an understanding of the underlying health issues and risks facing your workforce, you can tailor programs to address the specific concerns. As a result, your investment will improve overall productivity. Enlist the help of an experienced HR consulting firm to conduct an effective analysis of the state of your company’s workforce health.
Other Reasons to Invest in Employee Wellness
Healthy employees are more productive and perform better than less healthy employees – with more energy and better concentration. Your investment in their health and wellness will help your company realize other important benefits including:
1. Healthy behaviors will contain your company’s healthcare costs and reduce health risks.
Wellness programs will help your employees adopt and maintain healthier activities, which in turn lower the company’s overall health care cost. Studies show that workplace wellness programs effectively save costs.
However, the ability of an employee wellness program to reduce healthcare costs is directly related to the effectiveness of the program. The occasional seminar about nutrition and heart disease, for example, is not enough. Reducing costs requires changing employee behavior. In the long run, the savings will be greater than the actual cost of the program. The level of decreased sick leave and lower health insurance premiums to your company can easily be measured.
2. Healthy employees feel more engaged and satisfied at work.
In time, your employees will change the workplace culture for the better. Your employees will start to engage with each other more and feel more valued and appreciated by the company. A strong culture leads to less absenteeism.
Decreased absenteeism can result from employees adopting healthier behaviors, managing stress better, and generally feeling good. Feeling good means your employees have higher morale. Employees with high morale are significantly less likely to be absent from work and are more engaged in their work.
In short, healthier employees work harder, interact better with each other, and are generally more efficient. These behaviors positively impact your company’s bottom line.
3. Employee wellness programs will improve workforce retention.
When your employees feel appreciated, your company will experience less employee turnover. A wellness program is one way to help your employees feel appreciated.
A wellness program can also make your company competitive with larger companies when it comes to recruiting the best workers. When your company needs to stand out among many others vying for the same talent, a strong employee wellness program as part of a great benefits package may be the answer.
Contact the HR Professionals at Smart HR for More Information
The consultants at Smart HR have experience in helping companies like yours develop and implement an effective workplace wellness program. Their consultants can conduct a diagnostic analysis of the overall health of your workforce and develop a wellness package that is tailored to the identified needs of your employees. Speak with one of our HR professionals at Smart HR for more information about creating an effective wellness program to help drive the success of your company.
