Small company wellness programs are catching on. A well-designed wellness program is able to improve productivity, boost morale and vitality, decrease stress, decrease absenteeism, and control avoidable medical care costs within a company. The beauty of it is that you’re simply helping workers to make smart choices so the costs of launching a wellness program are minimal in comparison to the benefits.
Employee health is a big concern for small company owners. In a small company, even a few sick workers can disrupt the flow of the workplace and bring the operation to a standstill.
Instead of sitting back and hoping for the best, some small company owners are taking the matter of employee health into their own hands by launching Company Wellness Programs. Here’s how they work.
Overview of Company Wellness Programs
Employee wellness programs are programs initiated by the company to better the overall health of their work force and to help individual workers overcome specific health-related hurdles. These programs can be provided in a variety of formats: In mandatory employee training sessions, as voluntary classes, or through an outside provider offering a wide-range of Employee Assistance Program(EAP)s.
In every case, however, the company picks up the bill for the programs because an investment in employee health is a company cost that directly impacts the company’s bottom line.
Why offer Company Wellness Programs?
Apart from the obvious concern for the health of your workers, there are numerous other reasons why Company Wellness Programs make sense for small employers. Right off the bat, your company will benefit from the decreased level of absenteeism that goes hand in hand with a healthy workforce.
Company Wellness Programs will also decrease the number of injuries that occur in the workplace, not just from accidents, but also from repetitive motion and other recurring sources. Since even a minor blip in worker attendance is able to have a tremendous impact on a small company, a more reliable workforce will finally translate into a smoother work cycle and a more robust bottom line.
Company Wellness Features
Company Wellness Programs can cover a broad range of health-related topics. Based on your workers’ needs, it’s completely up to you to determine the kind of programming you wish to offer. However, most Company Wellness Programs offer some at least some programs in the following areas:
• Nutrition. Diet is able to significantly impact an employee’s ability to do their job effectively. Nutritional programs educate workers about food options and equip them to make healthy dietary choices.
• Physical Fitness. In addition to diet, physical activity is an valuable factor in a healthy lifestyle. Company Wellness Programs usually offer workers with opportunities to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.
• Smoking Cessation. Statistics prove that smokers tend to fall ill more usually than their non-smoking peers. Since sick workers disrupt the workplace, smoking cessation programs are a no-brainer for both employers and workers.
• Physiological Testing. Many employers offer physiological as a regular part of their wellness programs. Cholesterol tests, Blood Pressure (BP) screenings, and other simple exams can offer early warning signs for more weighty problems.
• Stress Management. Stress itself takes a toll on workers. However, stress is also linked to other health problems such as depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Company Wellness Programs that help workers deal with stress better not only the mental health of your workers, but their physical health as well.
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