Corporate Wellness Programs

Wellness for the MindSomething I’m often asked is; “What is a corporate wellness program?” To start with, corporate wellness can be considered a “catch all” term as it covers the broad field of organizational and employee health. Basically, corporate wellness is an initiative or program that a company or organization may put into place to enhance the health and well-being of employees.

Health – More than Just the Physical

When we think of health, we often begin with the physical level. Of course health includes the physical, it’s about ensuring that our brains and bodies are functioning at an optimal level. The most productive employees tend to be physically healthy, as physical well-being provides the basic energy at a cellular level needed to support all of our activities.

But there’s much more to health than just the physical. It’s all too easy to neglect our emotional health, for example. It’s just as important that our heart and soul are well taken care of. When we’re not happy, we’re not focused, and that has negative implications for employers as well as employees.

Then there’s the psychological aspect of health, having a positive attitude toward life and toward one’s work. We need to be resilient and have healthy ways of managing anxiety and stress, so that we can focus on problem solving and creativity in our roles.

Finally there’s spiritual health, and that’s just as important. Spirituality isn’t a religious principle so much as living a fulfilling life that is in harmony with our own values. Sometimes it’s difficult for people to articulate their values, but if we aren’t in alignment with our values – we won’t be able to give 100% to what we do.

How does a corporate wellness program help with organizational and individual health?

At a very basic level, corporate wellness programs provide 3 things. Most corporate wellness programs are a blend of these approaches in order to deliver the biggest benefits.

Education

Most corporate wellness programs begin with education. It’s really important that people understand the purpose of the program. That means introducing the concepts of corporate wellness, helping people define the terminology in a meaningful way for themselves, and encouraging people to take an active interest in their own health.

Many people simply aren’t aware of their own health in any kind of defined way. A lot of people haven’t seen a doctor or had a check up in a long while, so it’s possible they don’t even know if they have a health condition or are at risk. It’s important to help people get informed about their own current health status, so they have a starting point for reference and awareness of any immediate health concerns that need to be addressed. Education on general health topics such as nutrition, fitness, sleep, life balance, condition management, and preventive care are the foundation of the health education component of most wellness initiatives.

Intervention

Once people have defined where they are and what they want to improve, specific interventions may be helpful. Employers may offer intervention programs that support people in changing their current behavior patterns. These can range from quitting smoking, to weight loss, to building resilience and managing stress or any other area that helps people better care for their health. Interventions can be delivered through many forms. Popular intervention modalities are:

  • web-based or e-learning programs
  • health coaching in-person or over the phone
  • onsite services such as health clinics, fitness centers, employee cafes
  • Employee Assistance Programs

 Advocacy

This is where employers enable people to take an active role in decision making and managing their own health and wellness regimen. They become advocates for themselves. People need to know how to access healthcare services; evaluate and select appropriate healthcare providers; and work with payors, such as insurance companies to obtain quality healthcare for themselves and their families. Employers can measure the benefits on the bottom line as wellness becomes a part of the organizational culture, and as people take responsibility for and begin to practice and advocate for a healthy lifestyle.

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Showing 2 comments
  • Marion
    Reply

    What role do you see nutrition playing in employee wellness? Oftentimes employee wellness programs focus on gym memberships and exercise, but we know food & diet are a significant part of the equation. Food can play a big role in both physical and mental health.

  • Lisa Jing
    Reply

    Agreed. My model of employee wellness includes nutrition, fitness, sleep, life balance, preventive care, and condition management (if needed). All of these aspects of health are necessary for sustainable health, optimal well-being, and high performance.

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