The World Health Organization of the United Nations proposes that Depression will be the leading cause of disease burden by 2020. Mental health claims are the fastest growing category of disability costs in Canada overtaking cardiovascular disease.
Why Implement A Corporate Wellness Program?
The impact of stress on physical and psychological well-being and its negative effect on company productivity and morale is soundly documented. More and more Canadians are having difficulty keeping their mind on their work. Employees are preoccupied with personal problems and having more difficulty focusing on their jobs. Without assistance and coping strategies, these potentially productive workers will end up costing their company money by having more accidents, using up their ‘sick benefits’ and more workplace conflict, not to mention that employee stress lowers work quality and productivity. Unmanaged stress negatively affects the corporate bottom line.
The cost of unmanaged stress is clear but the effectiveness of wellness programs in reducing these damaging outcomes is not yet as well documented. There is no standard for corporate wellness programs. They range from incentives and rewards to participation in personal health programs and compulsory education. Currently most of the research on the cost-effectiveness of corporate wellness is being done by Employee Assistance Programs. Their research shows that for every dollar spent on EAP’s, savings can widely range from 3 to 14 dollars (Warren Shepell Consultants).
In the new global economy, health of the knowledge worker will be key to the financial success of the company. For every dollar spent by Canadian business and industry on training, the U.S. spends twice as much, Japan five times, and Germany eight times. Only 1/3 of Canadian firms provide formal wellness training for their employees (Source Warren Shepell Consultants Corporation). In order to stay competitive, Canadian companies will have to invest in their employees’ health.
Where To Start?
A successful corporate wellness program starts with employee input. Program design and the strategies offered must be responsive to employee issues and work within the parameters of their lifestyle.
Workers consistently identify stress management programs as a top priority for workplace health promotion activities. Management consistently identifies decreasing absenteeism, and long-term health claims as a priority for increasing productivity and quality. Stress management education is the first step of a comprehensive plan to ensure a healthy workforce and achieve and corporate success. According to one study, ‘a 10% rise in employee education can produce nearly that much in productivity.’ (Source Perez, Wilderson)
Stress management education begins by providing information about the basic concepts of stress management, including sources of stress, our body’s stress response, and various coping techniques such as relaxation, breathing, exercise, nutrition, sleep, and support. Along with this information, further guidance should be provided on more specific stress issues including family balance, conflict, communication, organizational skills, and dealing with change.
Next Steps?
Once a company has provided education on healthy lifestyle strategies, it needs to look at organizational issues that may be unnecessarily adding to employee stress levels. Issues such as employee involvement in decision making, two-way continuous communication, shift work practices, physical conditions, appropriate hiring practices that ensure the ‘right’ person for the ‘right’ job, clear job descriptions and expectations, opportunity for development, job security, management styles, and office politics should all be reviewed to obtain optimum performance and employee satisfaction.
Innovative companies further decrease employee stress levels by adding various services within the company benefits program. Some have offered reduced fitness memberships, or built fitness centers in their buildings. Daycare centers are springing up in some large urban companies, where competition for quality daycare adds further stress to employees. When supervisors support employees to manage the conflicting pressures of work and family obligations, ‘employee satisfaction was 69% higher, employee retention was 200% times higher, quality was 18% higher and customer service and retention was 6% and 7% higher respectively’. In a Johnson and Johnson study employees who had supervisors who supported them in managing work/family concerns, and had access to family programs at work were among the highest performers in the company, the best providers of internal and external customer service, least likely to leave the company and the least likely to have disciplinary problems.’
Summary
Stress education, healthy organizational practices, and counseling services are all part of a comprehensive workplace health program. Companies dedicated to implementing these strategies demonstrate to their employees that they are committed to facilitating and maintaining their well-being. Employees who are educated about healthy choices and have the support of the company to make these positive choices repay the company by being present at work and performing well. Corporate wellness initiatives make positive contributions to company culture and have a definite impact on the bottom line.
If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
Additional Resources
Building A Well Workplace – Four Reasons Why Health Promotion Makes Good Business Sense
Corporate Wellness Programs – A Business Case
Workplace Wellness: 12 Steps To Setting Up Your Wellness Plan
Workplace Wellness: Critical Questions In Putting Wellness Programs Together
Workplace Wellness: Measuring Wellness Outcomes
Workplace Wellness: 5 Reasons Why Excellent Programs Fail
Workplace Wellness: Moving From Health Promotion To A Healthy Organization
Boosting Your Wellness Programs To The Next Level
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