Small company health promotion programs are catching on. A well-designed health promotion program can increase productivity, increase morale and vitality, reduce stress, decrease rates of absenteeism, and control preventable healthcare costs within an organization.
The beauty of it is that you’re simply helping employees to make smart choices so the costs of implementing a health promotion program are minimal compared to the benefits.
Employee health is a major concern for small company owners. In a small shop, even a few sick workforce can disrupt the flow of the worksite and bring the operation to a standstill.
Instead of sitting back and hoping for the best, some owners are taking the matter of employee health into their own hands by starting worksite wellness programs. Here is how they work . . .
Overview of staff member wellness programs
Staff Member wellness programs are programs initiated by the business to improve the overall health of their labor force and to help individual staff overcome specific health-related hurdles.
These health promotion programs may be offered in a variety of formats – In mandatory staff training sessions, as voluntary seminars, or through a third-party provider offering a wide-range of worker assistance programs.
In every case, however, the business foots the bill for the wellness programs because an investment in employee health is a organization investment that directly impacts the company’s bottom line.
Why offer worker health promotion programs?
Apart from the apparent concern for the health of your employees, there are a few other reasons why employee health promotion programs make sense for small corporations. Right off the bat, your business will benefit from the decreased level of absenteeism that goes hand in hand with a healthy workforce.
Health promotion programs will also reduce the number of injuries that occur in the workplace, not just from accidents, but also from repetitive motion and other recurring sources.
Since even a minor blip in staff member attendance can have a large impact on a small business, a more reliable workforce will inevitably translate into a smoother work cycle and a more comprehensive bottom line.
Wellness Program Features
Health promotion programs can cover a wide range of health-related topics. Based on your employees’ needs, it’s entirely up to you to determine the type of wellness programming you want to offer.
However, most employee health promotion programs offer some at least some health promotion programs in the following areas –
• Nutrition. Diet can significantly impact an staff member’s ability to do their job effectively. Nutritional programs educate staff about food options and equip them to make healthful dietary options.
• Fitness. In addition to diet, exercise is an important factor in a healthful lifestyle. Health promotion programs frequently provide personnel with opportunities to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
• Tobacco use Cessation. Statistics prove that smokers tend to fall ill more frequently than their non-use of tobacco peers. Since sick personnel disrupt the worksite, use of tobacco cessation programs are a no-brainer for both businesss and personnel.
• Physiological Testing. A lot of businesss offer physiological as a regular part of their health promotion programs. Cholesterol tests, blood pressure (BP) screenings, and other simple exams can provide early warning signs for more serious problems.
• Stress Management. Stress itself takes a toll on staff. Nonetheless, stress is also linked to other medical problems like depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Health promotion programs that help staff deal with stress improve not only the psychological health of your staff, but their physical health as well.
