Health and Wellness Leads : What is a Workplace Health Promotion Program?

A Worksite Wellness Program is a comprehensive program to help and support workers in establishing healthier lifestyles.  This could possibly include growing employee awareness on health topics, scheduling behavior modification programs, and/or establishing corporation policies that support health-related objectives.  Programs and policies that promote increased physical activity, tobacco use prevention and cessation, and healthy diet selections are a few examples.  

Dimensions of Wellness

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

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

These dimensions are often illustrated as a “life wheel” with examples of health dimensions that include fitness, nutrition, purpose in life, monetary planning, social health & reinforcement systems, stress management, mind-body health, career planning and constant learning.   The key to personal health is keeping the “life wheel” in balance.  A comprehensive workplace wellness program addresses most, if not all, of these dimensions.

Why Employee Health Promotion Programs?

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 everyday American now works about 47 hours a week.  In addition, items such as modems, laptop computers, cell phones, voice and email have blurred the work-life boundary.  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 expected to be top of their game when at work.

A current study conducted by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses found that workplace wellness or Workplace Health Promotion Programs are successful in supporting employees to make positive health changes due to several factors such as convenience, environmental backing, and co-worker or social acceptance.  

What’s the Connection between Wellness and the Workplace?

Programs and policies that encourage healthy behaviors have the potential to make a big difference on employee wellness AND have an influence on the company’s bottom line.  Studies have found that for every dollar invested by employers in Workplace Health Promotion Programs/wellness programs, there were savings ranging from $1.49 to $4.91 with a median savings of $3.14*.  In company jargon, that’s more than a 3:1 minimum return on investment – a number that is difficult to ignore, and a best practice that must warrant serious consideration from employers.  In fact, a Workplace Health Promotion Program literature review posted in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal observed:

   • 19 studies observed a 28.3 percent reduction in sick leave
   • 16 studies shown a 5.6:1 ROI
   • 23 showed a 26.1% decline in health care costs
   • 4 saw a 30 percent decrease in direct healthcare and workers’ compensation claims

There is little doubt that a comprehensive wellness program targeted to meet an enterprise’s specific needs can save money by decreasing absenteeism, lowering medical care expenditures, lowering employee turnover, and building productiveness.

• The United States Department of Health & Human Services, 2003