Corporate Wellness Program

Corporate or workplace wellness programs have been around for quite some time. However, there may still be a few folks out there wondering, “what are they and how can their company benefit from them?” 

A workplace wellness program is a set of actions ranging from fitness challenges to health screenings that help improve the overall health of the employees working at a company. Wellness programs are flexible, shaped primarily by the resources of the company and the needs of the employees.

The essential components of any successful employee wellness program include;

Surveying – Reaching out to workers to find out what health concerns they may have, especially those related to work. Several factors that can contribute to poor health in the workplace include burnout, stress, and remaining stationary for hours on end. Working on a common thread can help encourage inclusion of a broader range of employees.

Planning – This is the process that takes data and insights from the survey and use it to structure offerings that address those concerns. For instance, one of the significant issues in your office is employees who feel overstressed or overworked. Build flexible work hours or mental health challenges into your wellness program to address this issue head-on.

Goals – It’s critical to be clear on the desired goals of instituting a wellness program. A clear objective can help you assign KPIs or key performance indicators.

Tracking – Follow the progress of the individuals and the team against the KPIs and goals you have set with their input. Use formal recognition to reinforce the successes.

Participation – Are employees actually taking benefit of the wellness program’s offerings? It’s likely the most critical factor in assessing the success of any wellness program.

Recalibration – Rather than a rigid set of activities, a corporate wellness program should function as a living process. The plans should change and evolve with the employees they are meant to serve.

A thoughtfully designed and well-implemented wellness program may bring many benefits to the workplace, including;

• Reduced absenteeism
• Reduced healthcare costs
• Reduced stress
• Increased morale
• Increased productivity

Helping out your company's bottom line is one of many reasons why corporate wellness is essential; however, saving money is not the accurate representation of the program’s success. A successful program should be measured in the level of employees' engagement, and by their health and happiness.