Corporate involvement in employee well-being is growing in Canada and abroad. In a recent study naming top employers for Canadian youths, brands with wellness programs made a strong showing. Research suggests young workers are those most open to employers supporting their health and well-being, though workers of all ages can benefit from a strong wellness program.
All in all, wellness programs improve morale and reduce absenteeism and turnover. However, not all wellness programs are built to last. Developing your program around a handful of key features employees care about will inspire participation and help you find ways to keep costs down. Let’s look at some of the most effective wellness program features:
Health Risk Assessments (HRA)
From wellness to manufacturing quality, all good programs start with a baseline assessment. Company-wide HRAs provide employers with valuable data on the overall health status of their employees while providing actionable intelligence to the employees themselves. That helps them understand the benefits of the wellness program as a whole and tailor their involvement in it.
Health Coaching
Many times, health problems are exacerbated by a lack of knowledge about health itself. Outside the doctor’s office, people rarely have the opportunity for one-on-one time with a trained health expert – and those visits are often stressful. Employers can bridge the gap through workshops, health fairs, and luncheon events that get employees’ burning wellness questions answered.
Fitness & Yoga
There are two ways to make a regular fitness routine more practical for employees: Develop an on-site fitness center they can use or partner with a local gym for meaningful discounts. No matter which method you select, it can make a real difference: Both yoga and cardio exercise are correlated with improved mood and energy, translating to higher employee morale.
Biometric Screening
Biometric screening can alert users to genetic predisposition to serious diseases. A propensity toward cancer, heart disease, and a wide range of other chronic conditions can be tested with the right materials. Biometric screening has grown popular as a proactive way for individuals to manage health, but the costs involved mean employers are well-equipped to place it within reach.
As a new generation enters the workforce and begins to take leadership roles, wellness is becoming a bigger issue within corporate culture. Small and mid-sized enterprises that adapt quickly will be well-positioned to develop a loyal, efficient workforce with greater engagement in the company’s goals and mission.
From: Windsor Benefit Plans