Employers have to spend a considerable amount of their operating budget on employee benefits, so it is necessary to closely analyze costs before adding another. Incorporating a wellness program into your benefits package is a very cost-effective way to invest in your workforce while also potentially reducing the cost of other benefits that you offer. Here are some important considerations that you should evaluate regarding the advantages of employee wellness programs.
What Features Do Wellness Programs Offer?
The best wellness programs feature a variety of components aimed at helping individuals improve their health independently. They promote education and awareness about healthy eating, physical activity, and other lifestyle considerations. Some programs include options to meet with dieticians or nutritionists and feature discounts or stipends for fitness club memberships. In addition, smoking cessation support is a common component of employee wellness programs. Educational materials, access to support groups, and cessation tools can help employees stop using tobacco and thereby dramatically improve their health.
Are Wellness Programs Worth It for Employers?
Promoting wellness can create cost savings for your other benefits. Decreased utilization of health insurance benefits and fewer medical conditions within your workforce may make your health insurance premiums less expensive. Moreover, adopting one of the best wellness programs will make employees less likely to use other benefits such as short-term or long-term disability benefits.
Another significant benefit of the best wellness programs is reduced absenteeism. When your workforce is able to avoid taking time away from their job roles for medical treatment, you won’t need your other employees to fill in the gap and take time away from what they’re doing or hire temporary workers.
What Are the Benefits of a Wellness Program for Productivity?
When your employees have better overall health, they can perform their job duties better. In effect, reducing the occurrence and severity of symptoms caused by medical conditions can greatly impact employee productivity. With good physical well-being and optimized energy levels, people feel better about taking on more challenging assignments or putting in extra hours when necessary. The value of each employee’s work product becomes greater.
How Do Wellness Programs Improve Employee Engagement?
Employees who are healthier and can perform better at work tend to be more satisfied with their job roles. They are more confident about their capabilities and are less likely to seek out jobs with a lighter workload. Furthermore, wellness programs can help to shape more positive company culture. When you take steps to show your workforce that you care about their well-being, they feel valued as individuals.
Ultimately, wellness programs can create savings on healthcare costs for employers and also create savings for other overhead expenses. A healthier workforce will ultimately produce better quality work. Both employers and individual employees stand to gain several key benefits from a wellness program.
About Haughn & Associates
Founded by Michael Haughn in 1986, Haughn & Associates is a full-service, family-owned, independent insurance agency based out of Dublin, Ohio. H&A strives to provide the best possible price and unique insurance solutions across a myriad of industries, including construction, IT, Habitation & Commercial Property, Agriculture, and Engineering. Devoted to providing the best of business insurance, life and disability insurance, personal insurance, employee benefits, and bonds, H&A is proof that success lies in long-standing client relations and satisfaction. To learn more about how H&A can be of service to you, contact us at (877) 802-2278.
