How Wellness Programs Improve Productivity in the Workplace

Mar 7

It’s no secret that when people are healthy, happy and thriving, they have better focus, are more productive, and perform better. This isn’t only great news for employees, but this is beneficial for companies in the long term.

Investing in a comprehensive wellness program that tackles the most common employee health concerns is a great way to boost company morale, increase employee retention, reduce absenteeism and presenteeism, increase productivity, and create an overall happy and healthy work environment. Here are five reasons a targeted wellness program can help your company and employees thrive.

Increased Productivity

A study from the journal, “Management Science,” investigated the impact of a corporate wellness program on worker productivity using objective health and productivity data from 111 workers in five laundry plants. The study found that both sick and healthy individuals who improved their health increased productivity by about 10%. The study also concluded that worker motivation and capability also improved. This study is an indicator of how businesses can increase operational productivity through wellness programs that improve workers’ overall well-being.

Reduced Absenteeism

It’s no surprise that poor employee health results in an increase in employee absences from work, but the absence of unhealthy employees can cause an increase in stress and workload on those present at work, which can impact their health and affect company morale. A study from the University of Pretoria aimed to evaluate the impact of a corporate wellness program on employee absenteeism and motivation. It found that the systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels of the employees were significantly lower after the 6-month program. Participants also reported less absenteeism from work due to illness. Furthermore, they reported an improvement in mood, attitude to work, better sleep patterns, eating habits, and an overall sense of well-being.

Reduced Presenteeism

Presenteeism is the problem of workers being on the job but, because of illness or other medical conditions, not fully functioning. Some studies show presenteeism can cut individual productivity by one-third or more, and can be more economically costly than absenteeism. This is mostly because it isn’t always apparent. If someone is struggling with depression, for instance, there is often no obvious sign that points to it.

A study published by the American Medical Association estimated that depression set U.S employers back some $35 billion a year in reduced performance at work and pain from conditions such as arthritis, headaches and back problems cost nearly $47 billion. A study conducted by UK insurer Vitality reported that over 40% of employees said their work has been directly affected by health problems–a figure that has risen by a third over the last five years.

Increased Job Satisfaction and Lower Stress Levels

A study conducted at a major telecommunication company in Malaysia had 63 employees attend wellness programs, while 62 had not. The results showed that the employees who had attended the wellness programs reported higher levels of job satisfaction and lower stress levels than the employees who had not attended.

From a human psychology level, the body and brain do not function optimally when we are chronically stressed. When we are stressed, our bodies go into fight, flight or freeze, producing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This response is an evolutionary response and is a temporary response to help us respond to a threat. When this response becomes chronic, it can trigger anxiety disorders, but it also prevents us from accessing higher levels of cognitive thinking. When we are chronically stressed, we are not as creative, intuitive, or thoughtful. This has an obvious impact on productivity and the quality of work being done in the workplace.

Happier, Healthier Work Environment

It is important to recognise that wellness is most effective when it is proactive rather than reactive. This can look like companies having more flexible working hours for employees, improving the relationship between managers and employees, and resources that support employees’ well-being, such as access to coaching, therapy, and targeted wellness programs. These all contribute to creating a healthy, supportive work environment, where employees feel safe to disclose issues without judgement or fear of losing their job.

References

https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2883

See Ron Z. Goetzel, Stacey R. Long, Ronald J. Ozminkowski, Kevin Hawkins, Shaohung Wang, and Wendy Lynch, “Health, Absence, Disability, and Presenteeism Cost Estimates of Certain Physical and Mental Health Conditions Affecting U.S. Employers,” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, April 2004.

See Wayne N. Burton, Alan Morrison, and Albert I. Wertheimer, “Pharmaceuticals and Worker Productivity Loss: A Critical Review of the Literature,” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, June 2003.