Can SMEs support Workplace Wellness? (The Guardian – 15/3/2016)

And the answer is ABSOLUTELY

The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) reports that more than 95% of businesses in Tanzania are small enterprises, are contributing about 35% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are responsible for generating up to 40% of total employment.

In a recent interview with the Capital Television for their Business Edition, I was asked if Wellness Programs are appropriate only for large corporates and my answer was that SMEs in Tanzania should start introducing Employee Wellness Programs, if they are to remain competitive with the current market uncertainties. When companies – large and small, invest in creating a supportive and healthy workplace culture, they attract and retain high-caliber employees.   These companies also have greater customer satisfaction because healthy employees are more satisfied at work and as a result are more productive.

Limited resources, especially in small companies, can prevent an employer from setting up a workplace wellness program. Reasons can include:

  • Lack of budget resources
  • Lack of staff
  • Little knowledge of the wellness concept and:
  • Concern about making wellness available to all employees.

Some SME owners may not be sure if the program would really work and others may feel that trying to change personal lifestyle behaviors is intruding and “none of their business”. The fact is that Wellness Programs need not be costly and they don’t need special staff. Employees generally like to see some healthy changes and would help make things happen in their workplaces.  Healthy workplaces often have a “positive workplace culture” and in a workplace with positive culture, people feel appreciated, valued and trusted.

For a small company, the payoff can be tremendous, since healthy employees miss less work, are more productive, concentrate better and visit the doctor less frequently. The payoff is also big for employees since workplace wellness and preventive care program enables them to take charge of their own health.

Establishing a healthy culture is the key to increasing employee engagement, improved retention, stronger recruitment incentives and employees who are fitter, with better attitudes, who provide better customer service and improved productivity.   Furthermore, employees in workplace wellness programs have decreased absenteeism, tardiness and employee injuries because of heightened focus on workplace safety.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highest impact programs include health assessment, education and counseling to reduce high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and tools to improve physical fitness and weight management. Because lifestyle factors are modifiable with appropriate workplace interventions, the burden of workplace costs related to chronic illness can be slowed or lowered with targeted wellness programing. A workplace health program aimed at keeping employees healthy is a long –term human asset management strategy

 

You buy health insurance to improve health of your employees and you buy a wellness program to improve the health of your bottom line by improving the productivity of your employees. Workplace wellness does not mean on-site gyms and staff canteens.   SMEs can very well encourage healthy living to their employees without spending a lot of money and time putting together a program. In fact, in some ways it is easier to create a healthy workplace in a small company that in a large corporation.

Here are 5 tips for SMEs that want to get started with wellness at workplace:

  1. Offer health risk assessments – Employees who complete assessments may find risk factors and then be able to take steps to mitigate the health threats. Online assessments around life-style are available and are very helpful in identifying areas for improvement.
  1. Review medical claims to spot opportunities for taking preventive steps. If the date shows many employees with blood-pressure problems, consider bringing in teams to conduct basic screening tests and speakers to talk about managing it.
  1. Bring in speakers for general health and wellness topics such as;
    • Healthy Eating
    • Back Care
    • Impact of lifestyle at workplace
    • Stress and fatigue management
    • ——-
  1. Encourage employees to engage in regular physical activity – as a minimum, 30 min walk every day and promote a 5 minutes “Get Moving “ break frequently while in office.  How about organizing a friendly competition?
  1. Organize a Wellness Day with activities and games around an agreed theme.

Reply back to bhakti@impactafya.com with your feedback and we welcome your suggestions for corporate wellness issues you’d like to see covered in our future columns.

As published in The Guardian of 15th March, 2016