As many industries continue to advance, jobs are becoming faster-paced and more demanding. To look out for the well-being of employees, many organizations are beginning to recognize the importance of employee well-being. In turn they notice how much it plays a role in overall happiness, productivity and company success. One result of this is that many companies are implementing wellness programs to promote healthy company culture and support for their workers. If you are an employer who does not offer an employee wellness program, you may want to reconsider. To help you make that decision, we will be exploring what exactly an employee wellness program is. We will also delve into the numerous types of programs that can help employees increase their well-being and how they can help the company overall.
What is an Employee Wellness Program?
Employee wellness programs are defined as initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of a company’s employees. These programs create a positive company culture by offering various activities, resources and incentives, encouraging healthy behaviors. The main components of employee wellness programs are elements like nutrition courses, stress management strategies, physical fitness initiatives, mental health support, preventative screenings, and more. Like supplemental insurance benefits, wellness programs can be customized. This lets you specialize your program to fit the needs and goals of your company employees.
What Do Most Employee Wellness Programs Offer?
As briefly mentioned, wellness programs can be tailored to the specific needs and wants of employees. With that said, there are a variety of common benefits that the majority of wellness programs will include.
1.Ways of Promoting Physical Health
The cornerstone of most wellness programs are offerings that encourage employees to be healthy when it comes to their body. Some common physical benefits include fitness challenges and activities, preventative screenings and health assessments. Fitness challenges and activities could include things like discounted gym memberships, company fitness competitions, and group exercise classes. By encouraging regular physical activity, employees will improve areas of their health like their cardiovascular system. Preventative screenings and health assessments will include services like blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing, cancer screenings and more. By detecting health issues early, employees will have a far better chance of improving the ultimate outcome.
2. Promotion of Good Nutrition
Wellness programs oftentimes will offer resources or workshops to help reinforce positive and healthy eating habits. By raising company awareness about diet, portion control and nutritional information, employees can reduce unnecessary trips to the doctor.
Another way to promote proper nutrition is by providing healthier food options in vending machines or cafeterias. By having better food choices on hand, employees will be much more likely to make nutritious choices.
3. Smoking Cessation Programs
Some other wellness programs will include programs to help people quit smoking or using nicotine products. These programs provide employees with support groups, quitting incentives, and other resources to aid them in their addiction battle. By offering these services, you can promote a smoke-free environment while also helping employees reduce nicotine-related health risks.
4. Mental Health Support
Most employee wellness initiatives offer some type or types of mental health support. Since many insurance policies lack mental health coverage, wellness programs can provide similar services for those in need. Common programs include stress management programs, counseling and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Stress management programs can include mindfulness exercises, yoga, stress management techniques and workshops. All of these help employees achieve a better balance between work and personal life. On the other hand, counseling and EAPs give employees access to support from mental health professionals. That way they are encouraged to work through their issues. All of these resources are great ways for employers to help their employees cope with the stressors of life.
5. Financial Education
Wellness programs can also offer educational resources to help employees better manage their personal finances. This can come in the form of workshops or professionals, offering financial guidance and planning tips.
How Do These Programs Impact Companies and Insurance Plans?
There are various ways that these programs can positively impact your business and its insurance policy. How can it do that you might ask? Well, here are some of the top ways:
1.Less Absences, More Loyal Employees
When overall employee health is on the rise, the company can benefit, and so you can you individually. For one, wellness programs tend to reduce the number of employee missed days due to sickness or other injury. When employees are in good health, they will be more engaged in their work and will miss less days. This ultimately contributes to the company’s overall production. Additionally, wellness programs can increase employee loyalty, making them less likely to attempt to find another job. When employees feel their best physically and mentally, their morale will generally increase too.
2.Better Recruitment and Employee Retention
Wellness programs can also serve employers as an effective way to attract and recruit top-tier talent. By offering a program like this, you can stand out from the competition, making prospective employees more likely to choose your company since you prioritize their health and offer a wide-range of services. When publishing job listings, try to include all of the employee wellness program benefits. That way candidates can have a better idea of what the company culture looks like.
In addition to being a tool for recruitment, a solid wellness program will also contribute to a higher employee retention rate. You’ll be able to show your employees that you are committed to not only their professional development, but also to their physical fitness and mental well-being. When an employee feels supported and valued by their employer, they will be much more likely to stick with the company for years to come, rather than looking elsewhere for another job.
3.Reduced Health Plan Costs
Another great employer benefit of providing a wellness program is the decrease in healthcare costs which often occurs. When you promote health choices, activities, and preventative care, employees will likely face far less issues, or when facing the issue, they will be proactive about it. If you encourage healthy behaviors and early detection measures to your employees, the development of many diseases and physical issues will be prevented. In turn, essential healthcare services will be used less, and policy expenses will go down.
The promotion of health and well-being will also help you when it comes time to negotiate your group health plan rate with your insurance provider. When insurance companies look at your company as a whole, taking into account every employee, they will look at things such as conditions, diseases, utilization of health services, overall health of employees and more to determine the company’s group rate. When insurers see signs that indicate a healthy workforce, it can often result in lowered rates and special discounts. With that said, being proactive when it comes to your employees will ultimately pay off monetarily.
Wrapping Up
An employee wellness program has the ability to use various health initiatives to encourage the overall well-being of your employees. While these programs will increase the satisfaction of employees, they can also take the company’s success level to new heights by increasing production, retention and loyalty.
By offering programs such as nutritional education courses, mental health support, physical fitness initiatives, and nicotine cessation aid, employees will reap the benefits of a sound mind and body. With group classes and competition, employees that would normally be less likely to participate will feel encouraged to join in, and a greater sense of community will be reached. While wellness programs usually impact employees in a big way, the advantages go far beyond just health improvements. Employers and companies as a whole will gain benefits such as reduced costs when it comes to their group health plan, less employee absences since workers overall health will be improved, and more effective recruitment with new, top-tier job candidates.
Employees that feel supported by their company will generally have a boost in morale, helping them to be more effective in their roles. As an employer who wishes to stand out in the competitive job market, it is on you to do your research and invest your money into a wellness program. While it may seem like an unneeded cost right now, the impact that it will have on the company culture and employee state-of-mind will pay for itself in years to come.
In conclusion, in today’s world, how our employees feel internally and externally greatly affects how successful our businesses are. If you prioritize their health and create a work environment that promotes positive habits, your company will thrive more than ever. If you are an employer who is in need of a top-notch group health plan for your business, you’ve come to the right place. At Group-Health-Quotes.com we have certified insurance agents who are available around the clock to help you explore your options and compare competitive quotes side-by-side. If you want to get a free quote with no hassle, fill out a form or give us a call at 888-571-0291.
