Benefits of Worksite Wellness Programs
There are numerous benefits of worksite wellness programs. In fact there are more than 200 scientific studies indicating the positive return-on-investment for worksite wellness programs.
That said, this listing is not extensive, but will note some of the widely accepted benefits of worksite wellness programs.
Worksites are crucial to improving the health of their workers. Most adults spend more of their waking hours at work than anywhere else, making it a prime venue for promoting healthful habits.
The worksite organizational culture and environment are powerful influences on behavior and this needs to be put to use as a means of assisting employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Benefits of worksite wellness programs for employees include:
- Weight reduction
- Improved physical fitness
- Increased stamina
- Lower levels of stress
- Increased well-being, self-image and self-esteem
Employers can also benefit from worksite wellness programs. According to recent research, employers’ benefits are:
- Enhanced recruitment and retention of healthy employees
- Reduced healthcare costs
- Decreased rates of illness and injuries
- Reduced employee absenteeism
- Improved employee relations and morale
- Increased productivity
A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report in 2002 revealed that at worksites with physical activity programs, employers have:
- Reduced healthcare costs by 20 to 55 percent
- Reduced short-term sick leave by six to 32 percent
- Increased productivity by two to 52 percent
Thanks to modern medicine, life expectancy for Americans has continually increased. How much we enjoy these additional years, however, depends greatly on how we have lived our lives. If our quality of life is to remain high so that we can fully enjoy these extra years, we must practice good eating habits, be active and refrain from using tobacco products.
Worksite wellness programs can help support these healthy behaviors. This guide indicates only a small portion of the existing evidence that shows worksite wellness works. Take advantage of these benefits in your organization. Start a worksite wellness program now! Use this guide to assist you and direct you to resources that you can use to create a successful program.
Let’s get started!
Click here to go to the next section of the Guide to Worksite Wellness Programs: Establish a Wellness Committee
