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Workers' Wellness Is Good Business

by Joe Rosenlicht

The all-too-common perception among many American workers is that their employers care only about squeezing as much work out of them as possible. While this can be true, it is more often merely a perception, so it's critical that employees feel that they are considered people first and workers second.

Employees who don't feel cared about as people commonly fall into a spiral of negative emotions that ends up negatively impacting both employer and employee. This can result in lower morale and productivity; higher absenteeism, turnover and health care costs; and potentially a decline in the employee's health and wellness.

From the organization's perspective, investing in some type of wellness program is just good business. Whatever the motivation, both employer and employee come out ahead when wellness initiatives are integrated into the workplace culture. After all, employees' health and well-being is the main driver of the organization's health and well-being.

The formula is simple: Employees who feel that their employers are taking an interest in their wellness will perform to the best of their ability, thereby contributing to the organization's bottom line.

A wide range of resources is available for organizations to cultivate their human capital. Some traditional examples include health fairs and screenings, subsidized gym memberships and employee assistance programs, commonly referred to as EAPs.

But these are just a jumping-off point. As more organizations tailor employee wellness programs to the unique requirements of each individual workplace, many are tending to use more progressive and targeted approaches such as online assessments that not only measure employees' current state of well-being, but also provide tools to help them reach specific wellness goals that they set for themselves.

A good employee wellness program will also address stress management. A large majority of office workers cite on-the-job stress as a top concern, a problem that affects all levels of an organization. Stress management is especially important since stress from the workday often carries over to workers' lives outside the office.

Many case studies have proven that organizations that emphasize employee wellness experience:

• Greater employee loyalty, engagement and productivity
• Reduced health care costs
• Lower turnover rates
• Improved recruitment
• Fewer injuries
• Less human error
• More harmonious work environments
• Healthier and happier employees with the knowledge that their organizations care about their health and well-being

So instead of puzzling over skyrocketing sick days or stagnant productivity, give some thought to that critical element of your business's success—your employees—and, as simple as it sounds, show them that you care. You'll be amazed at the return on investment you get!