Why Wellness?

There are a number of reasons why Employee 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 employees may actually start to see and feel a new level of energy  within the employer.  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 employees.
2. Reduced Turnover – As we all know, worker replacement costs can be quite high for any kind of  employer.  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 employer.  In light of the challenges that high worker turnover pose, many  corporations are looking to health promotion programs as an additional perk that can help to prevent  employees from jumping ship.
3. Improved Recruitment Potential – In the midst of a very tight labor market, corporations 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 employer 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 reducing absenteeism.
5. Health Care Cost Containment – The majority of corporations 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 corporations.
6. Enhanced worker Health Status – One of the greatest advantages of a well-designed Employee Health  and Wellness Program is the promise of improved health.  There is a growing body of evidence that  suggests well-designed Employee Wellness Programs can successfully impact such behaviors as tobacco  use, high-risk alcohol use, and more.