What is a Worksite Wellness ?

A Worksite Wellness is an inclusive program to assist and support employees in adopting healthier lifestyles. This can include increasing employee awareness on health topics, scheduling behavior modification programs, and/or adopting organization policies that support health-related objectives. Programs and policies that promote increased physical activity, tobacco use prevention and cessation, and healthy meal selections are a few examples.

Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness is much more than fitness alone. In addition to physical fitness, the ranges of optimal health include:

• Spiritual Dimension of Wellness
• Emotional Dimension of Wellness
• Social Dimension of Wellness
• Intellectual Dimension of Wellness

These ranges are often illustrated as a “life wheel” with examples of health components that include fitness, diet, purpose in life, financial organization, social health & support systems, stress management, mind-body health, career planning and constant learning. The key behind personal health is keeping the “life wheel” in allignment. A inclusive wellness program addresses most, if not all, of these ranges.

Why Worksite Wellness ?

employees invest a whole lot of time working, and the fact of the matter is that our traditional work-week is increasing. In fact, the typical American now labors about 47 hours every week. Plus, items such as modems, laptops, cell phones, voice and email have made vague the line between life and work. These realities cut down on the amount of time that the average individual is able to spend on wellness and health pursuits, and yet employees are predicted to be top of their game when at work. A current study by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses found that workplace wellness or Worksite Wellness are successful in supporting employees to make beneficial health changes due to several factors such as convenience, environmental support, and co-worker or social acceptance.

What’s the Link between Wellness and the Workplace?

Programs and policies that promote healthy lifestyles can make a sizable difference on employee wellness AND have an influence on the organization’s bottom line. Studies show that for each dollar invested by employers in Worksite Wellness /wellness programs, there were savings between $1.49 to $4.91 with a median savings of $3.14*. In organization jargon, that’s more than a 3:1 minimum return on investment – a number that is tough to ignore, and a best practice that must draw serious consideration from employers. In fact, a Worksite Wellness literature review published in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found:

• 19 research studies found a 28.3 percent reduction in sick leave
• 16 research studies demonstrated a 5.6:1 return on investment
• 23 showed a 26.1 percent decrease in medical expenditures
• 4 found a 30 percent decrease in direct medical and workers’ compensation claims

There is little doubt that a inclusive wellness program optimized to meet a organization’s specific needs can save money by reducing absenteeism, reducing healthcare expenditures, reducing employee turnover, and building work rate. The United States Department of Health & Human Services, 2003