Three Reasons to Initiate a Corporate Wellness Program

Corporate wellness initiatives not only promote healthy lifestyles among your employees but can also offer various benefits to your organization as a whole. Currently, workplace wellness is a trending topic, and for a good reason. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on corporate wellness. Some companies have shifted to remote work to protect their employees' health, while others are enforcing state and federal social distancing guidelines. Wellness can impact your company's bottom line, improve employee morale, and facilitate a positive work environment. Discover how a corporate wellness program can benefit your business today.

Increased Productivity

When your employees are healthier, they'll be less likely to request sick days throughout the year. Not only can you reduce the strain of a limited workforce during flu season, but healthy employees also tend to be more productive at work and less worried about health issues. In combination, increased productivity and reduced absenteeism can help mitigate inflated overhead costs.

Create a Healthy Company Culture

Employees spend most of their day at their job, which is why it's crucial to promote a healthy lifestyle at work since this will have a more significant impact on their decisions to lean toward healthy behavior. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage organizations to implement health and wellness programs because they lead to healthier people. A study conducted by the CDC revealed that companies with a "strong culture of health" are three times more likely to actively pursue remaining healthy. Organizational wellness programs provide these key benefits for employees:

• Increased motivation to improve or maintain health
• Increased well-being and higher self-esteem
• Reduced risk of developing chronic or life-threatening conditions

Healthy employees are happy employees. This idea contributes to your company's overall culture and can improve recruiting efforts. When candidates notice that your employees are satisfied with their employer and their role, you'll be more likely to attract top talent when you're trying to fill a position.

Target Health Insurance Costs

Health insurance costs can absorb a significant portion of your company's budget, which can impact your bottom line. Employees at higher risk for health issues cost more to insure, and they also pay more for healthcare than employees with fewer risk factors. High-risk factors include obesity, diabetes, and smoking. Implementing a wellness program can encourage employees to pursue healthier lifestyles, which can improve their quality of life and reduce high-risk factors that contribute to increased healthcare costs.

Health and wellness have become essential to companies across industries, which has created a demand for health and wellness professionals to help facilitate healthy workplaces. Tulane School of Professional Advancement offers a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Wellness as well as a Master of Professional Studies in Health and Wellness Management to help you turn your passion for healthy lifestyles into a career. Request more information today to learn how you can empower organizations by creating a healthier workforce.