How Wellness Programs Improve and Benefit the Workplace
Posted: Mar 13th, 2017 at 12:00AM
Google not only changed how we use the internet, but it also impacted the future of the workplace by changing the work environment to be more health-conscious of actions and behaviors that occur during the day. With the introduction of their wellness program and the huge success the program was with their employees, many companies joined in the bandwagon by providing their employees with a wellness program, suited to their workplace needs and culture.
A wellness program is not only about exercise. It also involves programs that provide health information, fitness education, subsidized healthy meals, and even a company gym. The benefits of such a program to employees are obvious but companies also stand to gain a lot in meeting their bottom line with the presence of such a program at the workplace.
Improved Productivity
Wellness activities at the workplace such as healthy eating and exercise improve employee performance and productivity by contributing to the energy levels and motivation of everyone at the workplace. This helps the brain focus better on given tasks, increasing the amount of work getting done. Additionally, such a program reduces burn out and reduces the chances of falling asleep while at work. All the time that could have been wasted can, therefore, be put to good use, getting more work done.
Building Community
Wellness programs bring people together for health and fitness group activities. Relationships that were not there before are cultivated leading to a better rapport with everyone else at the workplace. Good relationships are known to get tasks completed faster and to build the social fabric of any group of people. Every workplace needs this good vibe going on.
Improved Physical Fitness
Some jobs involve a lot of sitting down which does not stimulate proper blood flow within the body. Additionally, those who are needed to sit behind a desk the whole day tend to always feel lethargic. A workplace wellness program gets people out of their desks or job post (which needless to say gets boring at one point or the other) and gets them moving up and about. Different physical activities offered by these programs contribute greatly to the physical fitness of everyone involved and their overall wellbeing. If you want to tone and grow some muscle while being more productive at your job, you'd better take advantage of that wellness program at work.
Reduces Stress
A physically fit and healthy lifestyle contributes to better stress management. Exercise results in the production of feel-good hormones in the body which make us feel better about ourselves and reduce stress levels in the body. A stress-free worker is likely to achieve more at the workplace and contributes to a good vibe within the workplace that keeps everyone going. Those under stress are known to not meet their goals and targets at work and in their personal lives. Every workplace should, therefore, strive to promote a stress-free work environment by implementing a wellness program.
Lowers Healthcare Costs
Lowers Healthcare CostsA fit, healthy body is less likely to fall sick and reduces the risk of getting injured unnecessarily. As you can imagine, this reduces the number of visits you make to the doctor, saving you money in the long run. With fewer doctor visits, you also reduce the number of medical pills you have to take, the number of lab tests you need and lifestyle diseases is also kept at bay. Additionally, health insurance costs are also greatly reduced once you're fit and healthy.
Healthier Lifestyle Habits
A wellness program teaches on healthy lifestyle habits by teaching healthy eating, stress management, the importance of fitness and many other healthy habits. This results in a health-conscious mindset which plays a major role in keeping away unhealthy habits that put one's life at risk. For those who have been seeking to lose weight for health purposes, joining the workplace wellness program could just be that boost you need and in the right direction. For those who have been longing to stop smoking, a wellness program could provide you with the motivation and accountability structure you need to actually kick the habit. Smoking has many negative effects on our health as we already know. That wellness program could just be your ticket to letting go of the unhealthy lifestyle habit that has plagued your life for way too long.
Less Absenteeism
People who are healthy and physically fit miss fewer days at work compared to their colleagues who are not. A wellness program ensures fewer visits to the doctor and boosts the morale of employees thanks to feel-good hormones released during exercise. Overall, it has been noted that with the introduction of a wellness program, people tend to miss work less. This has a direct effect on their productivity. Higher productivity also helps the company meet its bottom line.
Increased Fun and Happiness
Wellness programs are known to be a lot of fun which counters the repetitive nature of the workplace. With a fun aspect at work, morale and productivity of employees is greatly boosted. Fun is also known to increase the happiness levelness of people and employers know too well the value of having happy employees at the workplace. Happy employees are less grumpy, have a great attitude towards their jobs, are more productive and contribute a good work environment for everyone. Such employees have also been reported to be more satisfied with their jobs which increases employee retention. The cost of hiring is very high and most employers try to avoid it as much as possible. Increased retention also allows you to keep the best talent which, needless to say, greatly takes care of the bottom line.
Increased Sense of Accomplishment
As human beings, our lives are not just centered around work. We have both work and personal goals. A wellness program contributes to gaining a great attitude that not only helps you achieve your goals at work, but also your personal goals. Additionally, most wellness programs feature healthy competitions among employees such as who will cut out beer for a week. Such challenges may seem trivial but they greatly contribute to team spirit which is needed to create a good and healthy workplace environment.
