Employee wellness programs offer great benefits for both employers and employees. Here are eight benefits of great value.
What are employee wellness programs?
Employee wellness programs are basically health benefits that many employers offer in various forms besides the standard health insurance. The standard definition of an employee wellness program would be a program that helps employees maintain and improve their health to stay fit. Many employers design wellness programs with a specific purpose like helping employees stay fit, through weight loss programs, gym memberships, or running campaigns that offer rewards for participation or achieving the required results. Wellness programs are not one-time activities, unlike insurance programs that are for a specific time. Many employers partner with businesses to offer wellness programs to their employees. However, there are no rules or regulations that employers must provide such corporate wellness programs. Some of the examples of wellness programs can be:
- Creating restrooms
- Offering healthy lunch and snacks
- Providing gym memberships
- Stress management camps
- Preventative health camps
Wellness programs, irrespective of their size, contribute towards making a healthier corporate environment. Here is a list of eight aspects that you must know about the corporate wellness programs.
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One size doesn’t fit all
Employee wellness programs are different for different companies and there is no standard way of doing it. It’s a good thing as the wellness programs must be crafted according to the needs of the employees. Many businesses go for options like health fairs, biometric screenings while some opt for health education by stressing on the importance of physical activity and smoking cessation. These are some of the most popular workplace wellness programs that are relatable to a majority of the workforce.
Easy to manage
Employee health and wellness programs can be managed easily as there are several resources available for employers. There are no specific resources allocated to manage the wellness programs in most organizations. They can be easily clubbed with the responsibilities of the HR department or a committee can be formed to take care of that. There are specialized businesses that offer employee health and wellness programs, which makes it easier for employers to manage their wellness programs.
Comprehensive
Contrary to popular belief, wellness programs are not only for rewarding people who are already healthy. These programs are inclusive as employers stress on the importance of a healthy lifestyle in a holistic way. Wellness programs address health issues on multiple levels like mental health, emotional wellbeing and financial wellness. All kinds of employees are a part of the plans and in many cases, the wellness programs at work have been extended to the dependent members of employees.
Technology-sensitive
Despite the ever-changing technology and newer trends, employee wellness programs have managed to keep up pace with them. Many companies have online platforms integrated with wellness programs to help employees remain updated about their health information. There are programs that also collect, track and offer insights on wellness data. Many wearable devices can track the activity of employees and help them achieve rewards when they make desired progress.
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Go along with corporate culture
Since wellness programs are different in different companies, they are easily adaptable and flexible for varied situations. The definition of health can vary according to different circumstances and integrating the wellness programs in corporate culture is an easy task. Companies can do this better by understanding the health needs of their employees and their motivation. Further, it is also beneficial to find wellness activities that promote employee wellbeing.
Make recruiting easier
Employee wellness programs help companies remain competitive in the job market. These programs improve the employer brand that helps in attracting and hiring the best talent from the market. Employers with better employee wellness programs are more likely to be chosen by employees. Health and wellness offerings are essential components that influence the decision of employees to choose an employer over the other. There is also a great scope for employers to have a good employee referral score as happy employees are more likely to recommend their workplaces to their network.
Worth the effort
Employee wellness programs are popular in many ways and their popularity is well-earned. These programs offer a good return on investment (ROI) in holistic terms and their benefits go far beyond the recovery of the investment made. Besides the financial gains, they help reduce employee stress, staff turnover and employee absenteeism. There are a number of health benefits when it comes to employees. These programs can trigger behavioral changes like motivation to decrease body weight, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, reducing smoking, etc.
For employees
Employee wellness programs are not just about employers and the return on investment (ROI). More than that, it is about the value addition for the employees. Though for employers, it could mostly be about the financial benefit of it and savings offered by such programs. These programs motivate employees to make healthy lifestyle choices. For companies that are looking to introduce such programs, they must keep their employees and their welfare at the heart of such programs.
Businesses that are considering implementing a workplace wellness program at their workplaces can use these insights to design a custom program for their employees. The benefits are numerous and the size of the company does not matter to introduce an employee wellness program. Even small and mid-sized companies can make effective use of their funds to ensure that their spending benefits the employees in many ways.
References:
- 8 Things You Need To Know About Employee Wellness Programs, forbes.com, 21 Apr 2016
- 8 Key Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs, talentlyft.com, 16 Mar 2019
