Tips for improving employee wellness

Employers have begun to realize in ever growing numbers the importance of helping their employees become healthier. Where companies once expected their employees to simply come in and get the job done, savvy employers understand that there are complex issues that can be affecting their employee's performance. This has lead to the creation of a movement to help employees become healthier. Most of these programs have are known as employee wellness program. Even though business managers are confronting a large number of issues on a daily basis there are seeing the value of improving and promoting, the health of their employees. When employers can effectively promote and improve employee wellness they are seeing dramatic and positive effects on almost every aspect of their business. Some of these effects are-

• Healthy employees are productive employees-The bottom line is that when your workforce frequently ill, this means that projects get put on hold or they lack in quality. The result of this is a lot of missed deadlines, unhappy customers and a loss of business. Employees who are not well a great deal of the time simply cannot do the same job as their healthier counterpart.
• Healthy employees cost less-A majority of health insurance premiums are based on the use of the plan. Sicker employees will use their health insurance more often. If an employee is having to use their health insurance more then their healthier co workers, the costs to keep them is ultimately going to much higher. The company will quickly begin to feel the ramifications of rising premium costs.
• Healthy employees have more energy-Healthy employees are happy to be at their jobs. Not only do their tend to do their jobs better, but they have higher morale, better concentration and energy and report much higher levels of job satisfaction. While all of these things can be reported as intangibles, the bottom line is that they make the company a more productive place to work
• There are a number of things that you can do to help your employees make healthier choices. Here are some tips for improving employee wellness-
• Offer incentives-Few people have enough self motivation to make the changes on their own. A few simple incentives can go a long way toward motivating your employees. You can set up some activities that function as challenges. When the participants reach their goal you can reward them with a prize like cash, gift cards, time off or anything else that will be of value to your employees. This is often what is needed to keep the employee wellness program moving along.
• Make it easy and accessible-It is important to understand that if the program is not easy to use and easy to find, your employees will quickly lose interest in whatever you are offering. Even the best program will not be used if your employees can not easily access it. However, there are a number of things that you can do to make improving employee healthy easy and accessible. For example-you can offer flu shots or health screenings on site, you can set up a gym or offer reimbursement for gym memberships, or you can switch out the junk food for healthier options. The list is virtually endless on easy ways that you can help employees improve their health. The bottom line is that the easier you make it for your employees to stay healthier and the more resources you offer them, the more success you will have.
• Offer encouragement-It is important to remember that a little encouragement can go a long way, toward inspiring your employees to get and stay healthy. Finally, make sure that you are setting a good example, and showing your employees how important it is to be healthy.