Wellness Programs.

Wellness Programs are excellent for waistlines and your bottom line

In today’s hectic world, most of us are spending more time at work, and have increasingly less time to look after our health. for a long time, companys have understood the benefits associated with keeping workers well - increased productivity from decreased absenteeism and decreased disability claims.

For these reasons, coupled with the fact that many corporations realized double-digit healthcare costs last year, corporations should consider Wellness Programs as a way to keep workers healthful.

But just how important are these programs to employees? How often are they willing to participate in programs designed to positively impact their wellness? Who do workers trust to provide them with important information about their health?

Answers to these questions and more were recently garnered from a research study  commissioned by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. (AAOHN).

The AAOHN survey questioned 500 employees nationwide about their perceptions of Wellness Programs. More than three-quarters of all participants indicated these programs are a good way to improve their overall health, and nearly 60 percent consider these offerings an incentive to remain with their current employer.

Staff Member retention and turnover impact the bottom line, so building wellness programs into the work site culture is a valuable way to help retain talented employees and to enhancing personal health and workplace productivity.

Wellness wish list

Staff Members appear to have their own agenda when it comes to their health. With new pressures resulting from an unstable economy, national security threats and work/balance issues, it’s not surprising that 85 percent of survey respondents cited stress management as a priority topic for work site wellness.

In addition to stress, other preferred topic areas include screening programs (84 percent), exercise/physical fitness programs (84 percent), medical insurance education (81 percent) and disease management workshops (80 percent).

In addition to lifestyle and personal health issues, those asked expressed concern about work-related health issues, including strains and injuries resulting from lifting or task-oriented muscle repetition, exposure to harmful substances, personal injury, vision changes due to computer work and workplace violence.

Starting a Wellness Program

With such a broad range of health concerns, a key goal for employers is locating a way to proactively address the health needs of the largest number of workers, and effectively change unhealthy behaviors, promote wellness and ward off illness and illness.

Printed materials such as  brochures, posters, fliers or  brochures present an easy solution. But it’s important to remember that different people  require different formats for learning.

A good rule of thumb -  provide information in a selection of learning formats such as videos,  handouts, health-related quizzes, display boards, lunch and learn presentations and reimbursement or incentive programs.

This assumes you’ve overcome the first hurdle - getting people  to sign on to a wellness program. While survey respondents indicated wellness programs are important, just six out of 10 (60 percent) reported that they participated in the wellness programs at their corporations. the other 40 percent cited lack of interest and lack of time as deterrents.

This points to the need for a extensive, structured wellness program using a creative approach, with an incentive for participation and effective program marketing and advertising.

By investing in an organized wellness program headed by a qualified health care specialist like an on-site nurse, companies can give workers the access to the health information they want, and increase participation and generate interest at the same time.

The result -  employees become savvier healthcare consumers who feel more in charge of their personal health. and healthier employees make for a healthier bottom line.