| p>One of the most important stakeholders of | | | | important since stress levels tend to be high. |
| any workplace is the employee herself. | | | | Wellness programs for employees may include a |
| Employees are the central and most important | | | | complete health evaluation, nutrition classes, |
| aspect of any corporation, small or midsize | | | | fitness facilities, screening programs, lifestyle |
| business, or not-for-profit. This is because no such | | | | coaching and health education sessions. The |
| organization can run without its employees. Their | | | | foundational idea of these programs is that of |
| fundamental importance in terms of the operation | | | | making the employee more aware about her |
| of any organization has been increasingly | | | | health risks and the methods in which she may |
| recognized in all spheres of the business world. | | | | improve the same. The motivation for |
| Employees are not just a part of the business, | | | | participation on the part of employees may be |
| they are quiet essentially the business itself. There | | | | provided through gifts, discounts on insurance, |
| is a realization brewing that anything which | | | | vacation days or any other suitable method. |
| adversely affects the employees will most | | | | Improvement of employee health means an |
| certainly affect the business and its output. The | | | | improvement in the business of the company |
| well-being of the employees is beneficial to the | | | | itself. The advantages of wellness programs are |
| company as a whole. | | | | diverse and varied. Improved health will translate |
| Unfortunately, there has been of late a chronic | | | | to a lower rate of employee absenteeism. Work |
| increase in employee illness and health-related | | | | productivity and efficiency increase, while |
| issues. This trend is not an isolated one and has | | | | healthcare costs shouldered by the company are |
| its roots in many lifestyle choices which have | | | | considerably reduced. The improvement in the |
| become a part of the current generation. The | | | | lifestyle of the employees will enhance their |
| relative lack of physical activity - coupled with a | | | | respective levels of job satisfaction. |
| fast food diet of burgers and pizzas - has led to a | | | | Employees are a company's most valuable asset, |
| spike in physical and emotional ailments. In relation | | | | and the wellness program is aimed to improve |
| to employees, these health concerns are more | | | | their health and life. The wellness program can |
| magnified in nature. The long work hours, an | | | | help the company reduce its overall expenditure |
| essentially sedentary lifestyle and work-related | | | | to some extent, given that the direct costs (viz., |
| stress tend to invariably get reflected in their | | | | healthcare costs) and indirect costs (viz., low |
| work efficiency. | | | | productivity) will be curbed as a result of their |
| Most organizations are seeking ways to curb this | | | | implementation. |
| disturbing trend. To this end, employee wellness | | | | Any wellness program for employees has an |
| programs are being initiated in most workplaces. A | | | | inherent advantage. One of the benefits of such |
| wellness program is essentially targeted at the | | | | programs being implement will be realized in the |
| improvement and enhancement of the overall | | | | sphere of work of the employee herself. |
| health of a company's employees, | | | | Meanwhile, the company will benefit from lower |
| individual-by-individual. It encompasses the | | | | healthcare costs and lower rates of absenteeism. |
| emotional, physical and mental aspects of health. | | | | Wellness programs are endeavors which are |
| In workplaces, the mental aspect of a job is | | | | beneficial in more than just one respect. |