The Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs: Why Investing in Health Pays Off

What Are the Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs?

Why is an employee wellness program important? It's no surprise that when employees are happier and healthier, the company runs more efficiently. Consider these potentially dramatic benefits of employee health and wellness programs:

Reducing Absenteeism and Presenteeism

Corporate wellness programs can help reduce absenteeism in obvious ways. By encouraging employees to change their diet, alter their lifestyle habits, and visit their healthcare provider for checkups, you're helping ensure that these employees can take charge of their own health. They can also learn about preventive measures they need to know to stay healthy, such as flu shots, annual screenings, and more.

Presenteeism is more difficult to correct. Employees showing up for work but doing the bare minimum is a problem for many companies, but it's not always due to laziness or disrespect for the company. Often, when employees feel pressured to perform at work and are given few sick days, they check out mentally. However, if they feel that their physical and mental health needs are important to their company, they will likely perform at a higher standard.

Lowering Healthcare Costs

How do wellness programs reduce healthcare costs? Around 133 million Americans live with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis. Those who put off going to the doctor — or those who simply don't have time to attend a medical appointment because of a busy work schedule — may suffer unnecessary complications and worsening health over time. Many of these conditions are treatable or even preventable with lifestyle changes.

Feeling bad can lead to poor work quality and missed work days. The financial benefits of employee wellness programs include catching chronic diseases early and teaching workers healthier habits. Ultimately, medical costs will be lowered over time as employees better understand how to take their health into their own hands.

Increasing Employee Retention and Morale

Most employers report that high morale is closely linked to their company's success. Low morale, on the other hand, drives people away from the company and increases presenteeism while at work. It's difficult for some employers to reverse course and fix faltering morale. If this sounds like your company, wellness programs can help you get back on track.

Wellness initiatives can lead to a sense of team cohesion and employees feeling cared for at work, which can go a long way to boosting productivity and job satisfaction. When strong employee wellness ideas are put into place, you may see fewer employees checking out, becoming dissatisfied, and leaving their positions.

Strengthening corporate reputation

The standard of what an employer should provide, as well as employee wellness trends, has changed. Most employees value the usual benefits like health insurance, parental leave, and paid time off. In recent years, there's been a shift. Employees are now looking for companies that provide intangible assets like work-life balance, healthy company culture, and flexible schedules. Employers who view their employees in a holistic way — rather than only prioritizing them during their work hours — are more likely to attract top talent.

4 Types of Employee Wellness Programs

Programs that promote a healthy workforce come in many forms. Some are focused more on physical health and strength conditioning, while others target healthier lifestyles, nutrition, or mental wellness. Here are four types of wellness programs you might consider for your workforce:

• Physical fitness initiatives can include installing a gym onsite, sponsoring company runs and workout activities, and having a step-counting competition. You may find, though, that these initiatives only attract healthy employees who already enjoy fitness activities.
• Nutrition counseling involves providing classes, guided nutrition programs, and sponsored weight-loss regimens to help your employees learn to navigate a healthy lifestyle. Employees may also learn how to target specific diseases with lifestyle and nutrition measures as a result of these programs.
• Mental health support is often overlooked in the workplace, but it can be a great key to your company's success. Employees who have access to confidential counseling, stress reduction support, and substance abuse treatment assistance may feel encouraged to do their best at work while improving their mental health.
• On-demand fitness activities like the Flex App can fill a need for classes and activities that are ready any time your employees are. This allows your employees to work out on their own time and in their own space.

Implementing an Effective Wellness Program: Key Steps

With all the wellness programs available for today's workplace, picking a starting point can be overwhelming. Follow these steps to determine what your employees need and learn how to deliver it to them in the most effective way.

1. Assess Employee Health and Wellness Needs

First, determine which program will benefit the greatest number of your employees. Do your workers show a desire for more team-building activities? Or, perhaps they have voiced concerns about stress and burnout in the workplace. Lean into these ideas by selecting a targeted wellness program that addresses weak points in your company culture.

2. Engage Employees by Promoting the Benefits

Ensure that your employees take full advantage of their wellness program by promoting it along with their other employee benefits, encouraging participation in wellness events, or offering incentives for completing certain challenges. Offer statistics and ideas from reputable sources like the American Heart Association that provide education on healthy diet and lifestyle.

3. Find Modern Wellness Solutions and Programs

Some employees may balk at the idea of attending blood pressure screenings or exercising with their co-workers. Find a way to offer solutions that speak to today's lifestyle including virtual fitness classes, telehealth counseling, and self-reported screenings or exercise logs.

4. Measure ROI of Employee Wellness Programs

You may wonder if a wellness program is worth the set-up cost. What is the ROI on employee wellness programs? Do workplace wellness programs save employers money — or is employee satisfaction the only outcome?

Some returns are measurable: in one study that tracked employees' risk profiles based on measures of blood pressure, body fat, and anxiety, among others, 57% of high-risk employees became low-risk after they completed a cardiac program at their workplace. This eventually amounted to six dollars saved for every dollar spent in the intervention program. Another workplace showed a huge boost in morale when, over six years, lost work days were reduced by 80%.

The takeaway here is that good wellness programs don't just reduce short-term risk and improve morale at work: They can improve your employees' well-being, which naturally increases your company's profits and reputation over time.

Fitness On Demand: A Flexible Solution to Your Wellness Strategy

When employers respect their employees, they thrive — and so does the company they work for. Help your employees learn how to take care of themselves and see a dramatic change in your workplace. Get in touch with us to learn more about the Flex App and request a demo so that your company can begin implementing a wellness program as soon as possible.