So What is Corporate (Workplace) Wellness? (The Guardian : 30/05/2017)
This article is inspired by a couple of recent encounters, where I was asked – “But what exactly is Corporate Wellness?” I am glad this question was asked, because it would be a shame if your organization missed out on all the benefits of Corporate Wellness Program.
When you think about it, everyone is striving to be healthier. Trying to cut back on sugar, trying to go to the gym, trying to eat healthy, trying to loose weight, trying to quit smoking and alcohol; we live in an age of self-improvement. Doesn’t it make sense for employers to aid and encourage their employees in their efforts to adopt healthy habits? After all, healthy employees result healthy business.
A well implemented and thoughtfully designed program brings many benefits to the workplace, including, but not limited to:
- Reduced healthcare costs
- Reduced absenteeism
- Reduced stress
- Increased productivity
- Increased morale
While helping your bottom line is one reason why corporate wellness is important, saving money is not the true mark of the program’s success. A successful program can be measured in the levels of employee engagement, teamwork, and by the health and happiness of your employees.
Successful Wellness Program Examples:
Be practical and accessible: Your program should be comprehensive, and designed with your specific workplace in mind. For example if no one in the office smokes, do not feature smoking cessation. Offer a variety of programs to foster sustained engagement, and be open to suggestions and feedback from employees.
Make health a cornerstone of your company: Be health conscious in every aspect of the business. For example taking the stairs instead of elevators, serving healthy meals and snacks instead of fried chicken and chips. A supportive company culture is key in reaping the benefits of corporate wellness programs.
Be Proactive: Provide your employees with the tools and information they need to be able to make healthy choices and changes. Offer screenings and onsite preventive care in order to flag any health issues before they become a problem.
Corporate Wellness cannot be treated as a band – aid. Engagement, motivation, support and strategy are the keys to a successful program. If employees are not involved in the solution, it is difficult to succeed. Preventable wellness is a complete lifestyle and behavior change and change takes time and commitment.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind when designing your wellness program:
- A higher level of awareness is essential to success: We are becoming more and more health conscious. But due to higher stress, long work hours and long commuting time in urban areas, it is more difficult to find time to act on wellness goals. Creating an on-site wellness program is important because the majority of an employees’ time is spent at the workplace.
- Many chronic diseases are preventable: These are the lifestyle, non-communicable diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity. The only way to prevent disease is with actionable steps to mitigate health risks. You cannot expect behavior to change overnight. However when a person is able to commit mentally, emotionally and socially, progress is possible. A Corporate Wellness Program needs to address this through consistent awareness, education and accountability.
- Corporate Wellness is a strategy: A framework that outlines short and long-term goals for employees and employer drives the success. Corporate wellness is not just one solution. It is the culmination of many solutions that work together under one strategy. It involves layers of physical education, communication, activities, evaluation and a long-term commitment.
Reply back to bhakti@impactafya.com or call +255 754 694 643 with your feedback. We welcome your suggestions for corporate wellness tips you’d like to see covered in our future columns.
Bhakti Shah, MPH is the Founder and Managing Director of ImpactAfya Ltd, collaborating with Workplace Options and Mayo Clinic, USA to provide Corporate Wellness and EAP Solutions in East Africa. Bhakti is also the Advisor for the Africa Business Portal and the Past President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tanzania.
Website: www.imapctafya.com | Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @impactafya