Health And Wellness In The Workplace

Health and Wellness in the Workplace

Health and wellness in the workplace is crucial to business success. Healthy employees are more productive and they cost less. The quality of health is intimately connected to the quality of life. Companies that promote healthy lifestyle habits for employees to improve their health, often take the success of the company to heart and are likely to be absent less often for health related reasons. Employers are now offering a wide range of wellness initiatives; such as health risk screenings and assessments, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines; weigh management programs on-site at employers' expense, subsidized or discounted off-site fitness courses, smoking cessation programs, on-site massage therapy and health fairs.

There can be several benefits received as a result of a wellness program. A positive work balance promotes healthy lifestyle behavior. Healthy habits appear very attractive when partnered with incentives and rewards. Incentives and rewards are motivating factors used to encourage employees to practice healthy behaviors. Holding health-related activities in the workplace improves employee moral, decreases absenteeism and shows that the employer is investing in the improvement of the employees' quality of life. Healthy lifestyles should begin with a behavior change program. Awareness; employees must recognize that behavior changes will provide benefits and help avoid detrimental conditions later. Commitment; encourage employees to make a commitment to change and turn a "should do" into a "must do." Skill-Building is necessary to develop and maintain the healthy behavior change. Once employees have the knowledge, they more likely to meet their commitment. Maintenance requires a

conscience effort and employees can learn to deal with any obstacles they may be faced with plus the ability to manage any lapses in said commitment.

Stress management is vital to prevent burnout in the workplace. A few ways to relieve pressure is get more organized; begin by writing everything down, prioritize, add timelines, and

schedule each task on a calendar, beginning at the deadline and working backwards. Add time for unforeseen interruptions or an unexpected crisis. Set-up a system reminder and perform the work as planned. In addition to getting organized, time management skills are also essential to reducing stress levels. Learn to delegate and assign jobs to others, take scheduled breaks, maintain a positive outlook and get enough sleep. Exercise promotes regeneration and energy. Employees who exercise on their lunch break are likely to return more motivated and refreshed. Some individuals go for a brisk walk, some hop on the treadmill for an hour and some enjoy a relaxing hour of yoga. All these techniques support stress relief which helps employees be the most productive during the work day.

Health and productivity in the workplace go hand-in-hand. Employees who can successfully manage their health and well-being tend to do better in their place of business. They are more productive and have a higher sense of morale. Wellness programs that focus on education and prevention have been shown to promote improved outcomes for employees with medical conditions. A healthy behavior program engages and encourages employees to achieve their own lifestyles, career goals while improving retention, productivity and absenteeism. Targeting employees' personal health issues and well-being goals keeps employees' content and self-motivated at work. While physical exercise is a primary concern, emotional balance is also crucial. Employees who have mental health benefits; including drug and alcohol addiction and other dependencies are more inclined to seek professional help if necessary. Employees who are

able to maintain emotional stability are more tolerant and get along better with their co-workers. Investing in health prevention decreases turnover of personnel, decreases the number of long and short-term disabilities and boosts productivity. Hosting health related activities in the workplace

demonstrates the employers concern for the well-being of their employees as well as their personal value.

There are many benefits of a healthy lifestyle, being in good health reduces the risk of illness, physical condition is enhanced, improved posture and balance, the ability to relax and control stress, the power to reach and maintain normal weight as well as a positive surge in energy and improved self-esteem. Employers who endorse a strong health and wellness program will have a healthier workforce, and a healthier workforce becomes a more productive workforce. Employees who maintain a healthy lifestyle usually exhibit higher performance, liveliness and more enthusiasm. These employees perceive themselves as more competent in handling life situations and define health as a high-level sense of balance and are likely to be absent less than 10 days per year. Employers are always looking for passionate, smart, entrepreneurial and motivated employees. When wellness becomes part of the