Employee wellness programs are a hot topic these days, with good reason. Research shows that healthier employees are more productive and can help save their employers money in overall health care costs. As vice president of Wellness and Community Health at IBX, I am probably a little biased, but I know employee wellness programs work because I have seen the results firsthand.
For more than eight years I worked in human resources at IBX, specifically focusing on talent management, employee engagement, and wellness programs. During those eight years, I became increasingly passionate about wellness programs as I witnessed the positive impact they have on the culture of the workplace.
Why Employee Wellness Programs Work
We believe in supporting the well-being of our employees, and believe that other companies can also reap the rewards of an employee wellness program. We recently published a white paper evaluating the effectiveness of employee wellness programs and our research shows that companies with engaged employees have lower absenteeism, lower turnover, and higher productivity.
Employees who participate in wellness programs are healthier, happier, and much more engaged. These employees have made great strides toward eating well, managing stress, staying active, and quitting smoking. They report feeling more focused and energetic and are less likely to get sick. They are more likely to be innovative and productive, both at work and at home. And, they share a sense of camaraderie and community with their colleagues. As a result, they are more engaged and involved in the success of our company.
Like positive peer pressure, a company that creates a culture of wellness attracts and retains like-minded people — employees who value a workplace with happy, healthy, productive individuals.
Engage Your Employees with a Comprehensive Wellness Program
You can support the well-being of your employees and increase your company’s competitiveness with Healthy Lifestyles℠ Solutions — a health management strategy that gets results. We work with you to create an integrated employee wellness program that is tailored to fit your employees’ needs. Providing a workplace wellness program like Healthy Lifestyle Solutions can improve overall employee health, job satisfaction, engagement, and retention, and result in cost savings for you: a win-win for everyone.
As we launch our 2014 employee wellness program here at IBX, I challenge you to do one thing every day to improve your health. Anyone can adopt this approach, whether you have a wellness program at work or not. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Swap out dessert for a piece of fruit. Replace your daily soda with water.
Commit to making one small change to improve your health and you will reap the benefits for years to come.
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