Emergence of Covid-19 and Focus on Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing of Employees Boosts Adoption of Corporate Wellness
Corporate wellness has been around for many years. However, the
emergence of Covid-19 has brought it into the mainstream of organizations.
Companies are now looking at ways to improve their workforce's health and well-being.
The recent economic crisis and the drastic change in the working environment
have both highlighted how imperative it is for companies to develop and sustain
a healthy workforce.
Corporate wellness programs have become the norm for many US-based
companies. According to a report sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor and the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and produced by The RAND
Corporation, over 80% of companies in the U.S with over fifty employees offered
some sort of corporate
wellness benefit.
When most people think of wellness, they often think of physical
fitness and nutrition. There are several benefits to improving your employee's
mental health and wellbeing as well. Studies show that poor mental health is
correlated with work-related and job-related injuries, which in turn can result
in lost productivity, higher sick days, and an overall loss in profitability.
Other studies point to the negative effects of chronic conditions on the work
force. Long-term unemployment is linked to increase sick days and missed days.
There is an increasing need for employers to offer their employees
access to corporate wellness programs. This type of program allows employers to
provide the opportunity for physical activity, stress relief, relaxation, and
other physical conditions that can benefit
employees. In addition to the obvious benefit of better health, employers
reap other positive benefits when they offer programs like this. Employees who
participate feel better about themselves and are more productive at work.
Some employers have balked at the idea of providing corporate
wellness benefits for their employees, arguing that it is against the nature of
work. Employers should want to offer paid time off, sick leave, and other paid
benefits that allow employees to reduce their dependence on other people,
whether on the employer's payroll or not. Studies have shown that employee
engagement does increase when companies incorporate wellness into their
benefits plans. Employees are willing to participate if they know they will get
paid for it. And remote employees are also interested, because they don't have
to commute to the nearest health center and participate in a program there.
Employees who participate in a wellness program are happier with
their job and their working conditions improve as a result. When employees feel
happier at their place of employment and with their employer, they tend to give
their best efforts and show up in higher productivity numbers. Happy employees
are more likely to engage remote employees in activities that require mental
health skills. The mental health of employees can be just as important to the
success of any business as physical health.
With corporate wellness, employees are more likely to be
physically active and exercise, which can lead to weight loss, better immune
system function, and a decreased need for public health crisis ambulance trips.
People who participate in a corporate fitness program are less depressed and
more likely to seek treatment for common illnesses such as depression, high
blood pressure, and diabetes. Remote employees are less likely to have common
illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
Corporate fitness programs can help save the lives of employees and prevent the
tragic mistakes that many businesses make in dealing with workplace stress.
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