Employee wellness programs are not a new offering in the corporate world, but up until recently, these programs were often reserved for larger corporations. However, as workplace dynamics evolve, especially in a post-COVID-19 world, companies and employees alike are recognizing the benefits of employees participating in wellness programs.
For companies, this realization comes with the understanding that their company culture plays a bigger role than ever in their ability to hire–and keep–quality candidates in their organization. A growing focus on work-life balance and awareness of prioritizing health has candidates actively seeking companies that prioritize employees’ whole-person wellbeing.
In the current job market, candidates are not shy about the way their priorities are changing, and they’re not afraid to say “no” to companies that don’t have the perks they’re looking for. Google searches for terms such as “best companies to work for” or “companies with wellness programs” have significantly increased in the past two years, with searches including “companies with best wellness programs” rising 200% over the past 12 months. To stay relevant and competitive, companies of all sizes are looking for corporate wellness programs to offer their employees.
3 Reasons Employees Should Participate in Wellness Programs
Along with being important in recruitment, there are several additional reasons employees benefit from participating in wellness programs:
Improved Health
One of the biggest reasons employees should participate in a wellness program is to improve their health. Corporate wellness programs offer resources and materials that many employees wouldn’t have access to on their own. Features such as smoking cessation, diabetes management, mental health videos, and more help support employees’ wellness goals. Recent studies have shown an increasing trend in preferring wellness programs that include financial wellness and mental health as well as physical well-being.
Reduced Costs
A healthier employee population results in reduced costs for the employer. This is because healthier employees typically have fewer doctor visits, prescriptions, and chronic conditions that impact health costs. Employees participating in corporate wellness plans are also more engaged and satisfied in their work, reducing turnover and increasing productivity. This means not only can healthier employees decrease employee healthcare costs, but they can also reduce costs associated with recruiting, sick days, and lost productivity. In a recent study by the Indiana State Department of Health, they found every $1 invested in employee wellness resulted in a $3.48 reduction in healthcare costs and a $5.82 reduction in absenteeism costs.
Improved Employee Morale
Company culture, more than ever, is becoming integral to a successful work environment, with millennials rating “people and culture fit” higher than any other company feature during their job searches. Corporations are finding it difficult to hire and retain employees without a culture that prioritizes their health and wellbeing. Not only is company culture important for hiring and retaining talent, but it’s also important for keeping that talent engaged. According to a 2017 study by Hub International, corporate wellness programs have a tremendous impact on employee morale, with over 54% of surveyed companies citing morale as their most improved metric.
Final Thoughts
As workplace dynamics continue to evolve to prioritize overall well-being, corporate health and wellness programs are becoming more common for companies of all sizes. These programs not only benefit the employees they serve, but also the companies who implement them.
For more information about employee wellness, explore 3Fitt’s Corporate Wellness program by clicking the button below.