Workplace wellness program

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Workplace wellness programs are work-sponsored programs located on-site or off-site, with the intention of improving or preserving physical and psychological well-being through the implementation of interventions such as nutritional, fitness, stress management, physiological testing, and/or smoking cessation programs. The main purpose of these types of interventions are to help lower health insurance costs (for companies that offer a health care package), reduce rates of obesity (which is linked to health problems such as heart disease, certain types of cancers, stroke, diabetes, and musculoskeletal problems), lower depression, reduce stress, and improve overall health. In addition, the average employee spends 50% or more of his/her waking hours at work (Harris, 2006). Because so much time is spent at the workplace, companies recognize that a large part of an employee's overall wellness is impacted at work, and workplace wellness programs can help serve to improve employee health on the job.

Programs

Nutritional Programs

Nutritional choices can be an important factor in overall health. Consuming wholesome foods helps to reduce rates of obesity, which in turn can reduce risk of certain types of cancers, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and musculoskeletal problems. Also, a healthier diet prevents an array of other health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

A nutritional program a company can implement may include offering healthier options in the cafeteria or vending machines, and selling the wholesome items at a reduced cost compared to the unhealthy offerings. Also, the company may have a nutritionist plan the cafeteria menu and vending machine options, and also be available for additional consultation for employees to help select healthier choices outside of the work setting.

Fitness Programs

A simple program companies may implement is to offer pedometers and encourage employees to take a certain number of steps per day, or to increase the current number of steps taken per day. It may include encouraging employees to participate in activities such as parking vehicles farther from the company's premises, or walking to a bathroom that is farther away.

Other companies may have a more complex fitness program in place, such as an on-site fitness facility, where employees are allowed to exercise during, before, or after work hours. This type of program typically includes an on-site gym with weight machines, aerobic equipment, and/or rooms for exercise classes.

Another program companies may offer is an off-site fitness plan, where the company would partially or fully reimburse the costs of memberships at facilities such as a YMCA, YWCA, and other fitness facilities. An off-site program has the advantage of being a typically cheaper option to offering an on-site fitness facility.

Smoking Cessation Programs

With the scientifically proven hazards of tobacco smoke, many workplaces offer smoking cessation programs to help improve the health of their employees. Health-related problems caused by smoking cost companies nearly $89 billion in health insurance costs (Smith, 2006). Employers are motivated to decrease those costs, and also to help improve the health of their employees. Cessation programs involve offering incentives such as bonuses and gift certificates for reaching goals towards becoming tobacco-free, or providing support groups for employees who would like to quit smoking.

Physiological Testing

Some companies offer various physiological testing to assess employee health, such as blood lipid level tests, blood pressure tests, fasting blood sugar tests, and testing resting heart rates. The purpose is to measure overall health, and assess the risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other illnesses. Also, the testing serves to help reduce overall risk of disease, and to educate the employee about potential risk factors.

Stress Management

High levels of psychological stress have been linked to health problems such as depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Because of the adverse effects, many companies have launched programs to help employees control stress. Types of stress management programs include education about time management, relaxation techniques, and anger management.

Benefits of Workplace Wellness Programs

Preventable health problems caused by the diseases mentioned previously cause a decrease in productivity resulting from higher levels of absenteeism and turnover, and also increase the cost of health care. In addition, it is estimated that up to 75% of health care costs are from illnesses preventable by exercise and proper nutrition (Bulko, 2004). Workplace wellness programs serve to change detrimental habits and to promote good health, which in turn increase productivity, lower absenteeism, decrease turnover, and also help reduce the costs of health insurance.

Additionally, healthy employees experience higher levels of job satisfaction, which is a large part of psychological health on the job. Further, improving performance on the job is an important goal for most companies, and satisfied employees perform at a higher level than unsatisfied employees.

References

1. Wellness program: Getting started. Retrieved from the Web

      http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/wellness_program.html

2. Koonin, M. (2004). Curbing obesity through workplace wellness programs. Retrieved from the Web

      http://www.iqpc.co.uk/binary-data/IQPC_CONFEVENT/pdf_file/5815.pdf

3. Bulko, J. (2004). Horizon, howard chamber establish workplace wellness award. Retrieved from the Web

      February 1, 2006. http://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/1217/pid/1106

4. Scott, E. (2006). Stress: How it affects your body, and how you can stay healthier. Retrieved from the Web

      March 16, 2006. http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/stresshealth.htm

5. The American Cancer Society website.

      http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

6. Harper, P. Shape up your company with a wellness program. Retrieved from the Web.

      http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/management/recruiting_staffing/

      shape_up_your_company_with_a_wellness_program.mspx

7. Workplace wellness programs: Developing wellness strategies. Retrieved from the Web.

       http://www.wellnessinstitute.mb.ca/whsc/workplace.html

8. Teacher Wellness. Retrieved from the Web.

       http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca/WhatsNew/

9. Smith, H. (2006). The high cost of smoking. Retrieved from the Web.

       http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhealth/P100291.asp

10. Cahill, J., Landsbergis, P., Schnall, P. (1995). Reducing occupational stress. Retrieved from the Web.

       September, 1995. http://www.workhealth.org/prevention/prred.html

11. Harris, J. (2006). Wellness in the workplace. Retrieved from the Web.

        http://www.nwpublichealth.org/archives/f2006/workplace-wellness-initiatives

12. Wellness Programs Retrieved from the Web. Info portal and cost analysis for companies wishing to implement a workplace wellness program for their employees.