If you're not doing as well with your health or fitness program as you'd like, you might be able to get free support from your employer. Many business offer wellness programs to help employees decrease tardiness, absenteeism and health-care costs and improve productivity through physical and emotional wellness.
Fitness
Many companies offer wellness programs that target physical fitness. Your company may have an on-site gym, provide memberships to gyms or fitness centers, offer rebates if you buy exercise equipment or pay for physicals and check-ups that provide you with an evaluation of your fitness and recommendations to improve. Your employer wants you to be at your best when you're at work and to avoid fitness problems that decrease your productivity. For example, a big belly strains the spine and lower back. American businesses lose more than 100 million employee workdays per year due to lower-back pain alone, according to the Wellness Council of America website.
Smoking Cessation
Smokers cost businesses money. In addition to the time they spend away from work during smoking breaks, smokers have higher instances of respiratory illnesses, cost more to insure and have more hospital admissions than those who don't. Your company may offer a smoking-cessation program.
Pre- and Post-Natal Care
Workers with good pre- and post-natal health care cost companies less not only because they have fewer complications with their pregnancies, but because healthy children require employees to spend less company time making extra phone calls or leaving work for doctor's visits and require less spending on prescriptions. Larger companies may have on-site pregnancy wellness programs, while others may refer you to a company-approved physician.
Weight Control
A healthy weight coincides with fewer instances of diseases and conditions, such as poor cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Your company may offer literature, cooking classes, nutrition lectures or exercise classes. You may be able to get a personal evaluation, target weight, diet and exercise plans and other assistance.
Alcoholism
Employees with alcohol problems not only reduce a company's productivity, but also pose a physical danger to themselves and other employees. If you have a drinking problem or know an employee who does, check to see if your company offers assistance.
Work-Life Balance
Some business offer psychological counseling to help employees deal with stress or other mental problems they bring to work. In addition to offering programs that target specific problems, such as depression or abuse, they may counsel you in balancing the amount of work you do at home and work with sufficient rest and relaxation activities.
References
- Wellness Council of America: Building a Well Workplace
- Corporate Health Programs: Employee Wellness Programs: Focus on Smoking Cessation Programs
- Wellness Quotes: Top 10 Reasons Why Your Company Needs an Employee Wellness Program
- Workplace Wellness Program: Are Company Wellness Programs Cost-Effective?
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