What is worksite wellness?

Millions of Americans spend their days working for company jobs- we have truly embodied the term “corporate America” as we live and breathe in the corporate world. The “corporate America” term has become so popularized and is seen in popular TV shows like The Office. It depicts the corporate world in a derogatory manner by showing the everyday, bleak and mundane yet stressful office life.

Full time employment in company jobs can exhaust up to a third of your life; these stressful 40 hour work weeks can very quickly lead employees to not only be burnt out but also lead unhealthy lifestyles, causing a number of chronic diseases. Worksite wellness interventions are implemented programs that promote employee health and foster a healthy work environment. These programs consist of organized activities spearheaded by employers in order to improve aspects of health including physical, mental and emotional (CITE).

Why is worksite wellness important?

According to the US Chamber of Commerce, employees who are involved in wellness programs are more in shape, more productive and have better morale than those who do not. This benefits employers and the company as a whole by increasing employee retention rates and company productivity. Healthy and happy employees lead to wealthier companies.

Worksite wellness programs save companies money by reducing healthcare and absenteeism costs. Illness prevention is key as medical bills in the US can skyrocket the sicker you get.

Wellness programs are not only an investment for your long term health but also a financial investment- employers who offer wellness initiatives and have programs that follow best practice guidelines obtain a return of $2 to $3 for each dollar invested. These savings can be used to pay employees higher wages, invest in further adapting benefits to specific employee population needs, and create more jobs (CITE).

Issues with worksite wellness in the US.

There is a great need for worksite wellness programs in smaller and medium sized companies. Workplace health promotion programs increased with the number of employers: 39% of worksites of 10-24 employees, 60% of worksites with 50-99 employees and 92% of worksites with 500 or more employees (CITE). It is important to improve the number of wellness programs for smaller and medium sized companies so that these employees can reach the level of health they deserve.

Additionally, not enough programs offer adequate nutrition resources. Read our article on why nutrition prevention is important, especially in the workplace.

Citations:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "CDC Newsroom." CDC, 29 May 2019, www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0422-workplaces-offer-wellness.html.

2. US Chamber of Commerce. "Workplace Wellness." U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2 July 2020, www.uschamber.com/issues/health-care/workplace-wellness.

3. Well Ahead. "Worksite Wellness." Well-Ahead Louisiana, 15 July 2021, wellaheadla.com/prevention/obesity/worksite-wellness/.