Embracing a Healthy Workplace
I watched an interesting documentary recently about a company where the owner implemented a company wide program to improve the health of the employees and paid bonuses for changes in lifestyle such as weight loss, smoking cessation and increased exercise. Many of the employees found the owners commitment to good health the "push" they needed to get them started on a new path. So… why would an owner of a business care so much about employee health?
Make a commitment to health
It is has been proven in many studies that employers who eat poorly, don't exercise and fail to schedule routine checkups are likely to miss more days of work, to be less productive when at work and to incur higher medical costs. Studies have indicated that 75 percent of illness is due to lifestyle-related causes. The lesson: It pays to influence your employees’ health-related behavior.
When you make the decision to create a wellness program for your staff, you need to craft it so it will be motivational, gain the attention of the employees and ultimately send a message about the company’s commitment to a the staff’s good health.
The most successful workplace wellness programs begin with:
- Senior-level support.
- A "wellness team" to promote and administer the program.
- An organized plan for implementation.
A budget and detailed timeline should be established and coordinated with a specific communications strategy. Individuals from all levels of the company should be represented.
The perception of the program and subsequent participation is critical. Employees must understand that the company cares about their well-being and truly wants them to be healthy. This increased level of awareness encourages them to live a healthier lifestyle and manage any conditions they may discover through this process.
Track progress
After the framework for the plan and the team of individuals within the company is established, the next step is to track your progress. This can be done by a contracted health organization to perform on-site testing or it can be done in a less formal environment known as the "honor system". The honor system is certainly less reliable; however, it is well received in many work environments. If a health organization is chosen, tests that are typically included are:
- Conducting health risk assessments.
- Testing levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose.
- Measuring body mass index and blood pressure.
- Screening for cancer.
Certified phlebotomists will perform the employees' blood tests and in most cases have results available immediately for discussion comparing their results with nationally accepted ranges. They will provide guidance and recommended steps to address any problem areas and distribute educational literature. Taking it a step further, results can be forwarded to employees' doctors for follow-up treatment.
Confidentiality Is Critical
Confidentiality is critical to the success of wellness programs. Not only are their new laws that will put your firm into jeopardy if personal health information is shared among the staff; most employees just don’t want everyone to know their personal health profiles.
The overall goal of the program is to increase productivity, improve morale and lower overall costs for the firm. Return on investment from these programs has been estimated to be from $3 to $14 for every dollar spent. It is certainly worth your time and money to implement a program for your staff.
Begin the summer with a positive message for you staff…. "We will be your partner in the quest for a healthy lifestyle".