Enrique Hernandez, HR Manager
Allegro, A Division of Conair Corporation
El Segundo, CA
Q & A
Q: Are wellness programs beneficial?
Yes, wellness programs create an overall health enhancing work experience, as well as it is an incentive to increase employee’s participation and awareness in corporate wellness.
Q: What are some of the benefits of wellness programs?
I think the benefits for employers are obvious. They provide the company with strategic advantages by investing money in a program that will hopefully bring them lowered expenses in return, often in the form of better performing workers, and lower absenteeism and health care costs.
Q: When is the best time to establish a wellness budget and ROI?
In my opinion, there’s never a better time to start a workplace wellness program than now! When workplace wellness programs are implemented correctly by using thorough, company-specific research and planning, they have win-win potential for both the employer and the employees.
Q: Are wellness programs cost effective?
You know there’s a hot debate around an issue when people on both sides of the matter insist that there’s really no debate at all.
Such is the case with corporate wellness programs, in general, and whether they can be expected to deliver a positive financial outcome for the company, in particular. The debate has been simmering along for a few years, but it may come to a boil as 2018 nears.
That’s when employers will face a heavy, perhaps even devastating 40% tax on health benefits costing above threshold amounts, as stipulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many companies are looking at wellness programs as a key element of their quest to hold down costs and thereby escape the so-called “Cadillac Tax.”
Q: What is the importance of establishing wellness activities in the workplace?
Every person has some sort of health risk to varying degrees, whether it’s unhealthy eating, lack of exercise or sleep, drinking, smoking, or even something genetic. Using a wellness program can make positive change happen. Not only will the employee be more able to complete her job responsibilities, but she will also have more energy and vigor to give to her family and friends when she gets home.
Q: What service do wellness programs provide to the employees and companies?
Workplace wellness programs can help employees get healthier, even if that simply means learning how to reduce stress and muscle strain when they are on the job. Some wellness programs might also help to lose weight, lower employee’s cholesterol and blood pressure, sleep better, and save money on prescriptions. Sometimes, all the employees need is a little motivation to get the ball rolling and a workplace wellness plan might be it.
Another great benefit of wellness programs is a built sense of camaraderie with co-workers. Employees will have a chance to experience activities with them that aren’t related to work, whether in a yoga or Zumba session, or sports team, by having lunch together, or by going to the gym. Social support is a very important part of weight loss and getting fit. By interacting with co-workers, employees will have others to give them encouragement when they need it, as well as to hold their accountable to their goals. Plus, employees will be motivated by seeing other’s positive results. By using a wellness program, employees will be an important part of the team.
Q: Should more employers implement wellness practices for their employees?
Yes, employers consider their employees’ physical and mental health to be important to their bottom line, and wellness programs are an opportunity to encourage employees to make healthier choices, such as getting preventative care, eating right and exercising thus a higher performing workforce.
Q: Are employees willing to participate in wellness programs?
To successfully promote participation and healthy behavior changes, employers should put employees in a position to gain or achieve something tangible. Plenty of people want to lose weight, quit smoking, or reduce stress. However, those goals often seem out of reach. Offering an incentive – such as an extra paid vacation day for following a wellness program for a set period of time for achieving a specific priority health goal – presents an attainable goal with a tangible reward. In essence, incentives provide the vividly orange and very delectable carrot at the end of the stick.
Q: What would you say is the best way for companies to approach wellness programs?
A well-designed incentive program conveys a positive commitment from the employer to the employee. Employees need to know the company cares about their health and the company is willing to do whatever it takes to not only get them healthy but keep them that way.
Do you believe wellness programs have the ability to lower workers compensation as well as the company’s overall health costs?
Despite the benefits of wellness program, nearly a quarter (22 percent) of companies do not offer them for their workforce due to the difficulty in quantifying the return-on-investment (ROI). However, a comprehensive analysis of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs showed that companies that implemented an effective wellness program realized significant cost reductions and financial gains, including:
· An average of 28 percent reduction in sick days
· An average of 26 percent reduction in health costs
· An average of 30 percent reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims
· An average $5.93 to $1 savings-to-cost ratio.
From: Omployer