Wellness or Worksite Health Promotion is just what it says – it promotes the concept of healthy employees. It can create a win-win situation for both the organization and the employee. Healthy employees may benefit the organization by:
Fewer health insurance claims Less time off for illness Greater productivity due to more energy and no smoking breaks More motivation to do well for an organization that treats them well Less turnover and retraining costs
Employees may benefit as individuals by increasing the quality of their lives, both on and off the job. This may mean more energy to do the things they want to in their personal lives, whether it be fun activities with the family, individual hobbies, or social activities.
This, in turn, can help keep stress levels down and allow the employees to better handle challenges on the job.
IMPLEMENTING A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
The most successful programs have the support and encouragement of management at all levels. According to William Steere, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Inc., one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies:
Having a healthy, motivated work force is vitally important to the company as a whole.
We believe that we have a responsibility to give our people the resources they need to stay as healthy as possible. The personal happiness of our people – and their ability to pursue and achieve their own goals – are critical to the well-being of our company. {Adapted from AWHP Worksite Health, Spring/Summer 2000}
The concept – success requires everyone’s efforts:
Top management support - financially, conceptually, in practice, and as positive role models. They allow themselves and encourage their employees to take time to participate in various program components.
Middle management and supervisors support – conceptually, in practice, and as positive role models. They allow themselves and encourage their employees to take time to participate in various program components.
Employees – encourage co-workers to participate and are willing to make healthy changes themselves.
Putting Theory into Practice:
What does Health Promotion include? The budget for Health Promotion can be as small or as large as the organization deems worthwhile to meet its needs. HEC recommends including at least some programs in each of the 3 areas of Awareness, Information, and Intervention, both for the company as a whole and for the employees.
HEC can assist you in setting up and managing many aspects of your Healthy Organization, policies and programs. We offer the benefit of “one-stop-shopping” to reduce the time and effort you need to spend to have healthier and more productive employees.