Health and Wellness Programs Aid Work Productivity

​The core pillars behind health and wellness are nutrition, exercise, preventive care, sleep, and mental health. Without these, we experience adverse impacts on our emotional, mental, and physical health.

Wellness experts suggest that incorporating activities that enhance the five pillars of health and wellness leads to improved physical health, reduced doctor visits, and a longer lifespan. These practices also have benefits for improving cognitive health and reducing anxiety. Because health and wellness encompass self-care, it opens doors to increased confidence, forming positive social relationships, and developing an appreciation for life.

Failing to engage in activities that promote mental, physical, and emotional well-being can negatively impact productivity levels. In business, unaddressed health and wellness issues add up to $282 billion a year in mental health issues as a result of people feeling burned out or completely disengaging from work.

When employees fail to connect with their work, they miss opportunities, exhibit lackluster effort, and experience overall decreased performance across the organization, resulting in missed project deadlines, lower customer satisfaction, and lower morale among employees. One Gallup poll found that, as a country, the US stands to lose upwards of $300 billion annually due to employees simply disengaging. Conversely, employers who implement health and wellness into the company’s mission regularly see highly engaged teams, 21% greater profitability, and 18% higher productivity.

Lack of health and wellness programs at work translates into higher healthcare costs nationwide. Many of the activities that contribute to health and wellness promote preventive care. Ignored health issues only become exacerbated and can result in chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, which can result in paying more in terms of healthcare costs. According to figures from the American Cancer Society, lost productivity and absenteeism related to chronic illnesses, such as cancer, contribute billions of dollars annually to nationwide employer costs.

Other costs include service decline due to low employee engagement. When employees experience stress or deal with physical health issues, they often fail to provide exceptional customer service and go the extra mile. For a business, this inability to provide stellar service can translate into lost customers and sales, as employee service reflects on the company culture and brand.

The absence of formal or informal health and wellness programs can also result in a lack of innovation. When employees feel good at work and feel they are in a safe space to ask questions and provide input, the workplace becomes the breeding ground for creativity. Without motivating programs and initiatives that remove factors that hinder optimal health, employees may disengage, which in turn stifles innovation.

Companies can foster a culture that supports health and wellness by first engaging company leaders and managers in creating opportunities at work, whether through developing a program or establishing opportunities for open discussions about mental and physical health. Establishing a program tailored to employees' needs encourages them to participate in wellness programs that address issues such as financial stress, caregiving, or physical fitness.

Ultimately, companies that train their managers to interact with employees in an empathetic manner, foster a psychologically safe work environment, and become active listeners, creating an environment that promotes health and wellness in the office.

Trevor Lunsford

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