Workplace health and wellness programs should be an essential part of the company’s overall strategy to promote a healthy workplace. According to the International Labor Organization, the promotion of health in the workplace should include the prevention of occupational diseases and non-occupational diseases that have an impact on the workplace.
For that reason, many companies have chosen to create health programs for employees. The survey The Towers Perrin 2008 Healthcare Cost Survey concluded that businesses that have implemented these strategies had cost care to lower health per employee 16% companies without these programs – $ 8,532 instead of $ 10,200 per active employee. And is that when you took into account the decrease in absenteeism and increased the productivity of employees, the financial benefits become obvious!
Now that you are convinced of the benefits of investing in a good program, you will be asking yourself what you need to implement the best health program for your employees. Here are 5 steps you can take to get started and make sure you get the maximum benefit, both in cost savings and in a healthier workforce:
1. COLLECT BASIC DATA
Many employers do not have a detailed idea of the general health of their employees. In this way, collecting this data is the first step that you should not overlook, because it helps the company to determine where it should direct its efforts. For example, if obesity is a common employee problem, you should focus on solving it. It’s not as hard as it looks. On the internet, you can find surveys prepared to collect information about each employee such as medical history, blood pressure, cholesterol or glucose levels. Remember that you must keep this information confidential and you can also extend it to employees’ dependents if they are covered in their health benefits.
2. DEVELOP PERSONALIZED HEALTH REPORTS
Today there are programs to create personalized health reports and an action plan for each employee, based on the health information collected. These reports help identify existing or potential health problems such as diabetes or hypertension. In this way, you can focus on what you need to pay attention to and find a solution.
3. BUILD A HEALTH PROFILE OF THE ENTIRE STAFF
By using the data collected from personal health surveys, companies can create detailed reports of the general health of the staff. They can identify current problems such as a high number of sedentary employees, with bad health habits, stress, etc. and thus be able to intervene before it is too late. Employers who can demonstrate positive health changes in their workforce can even negotiate better terms with health insurance, which leads to cost savings.
4. ENTER AN ORGANIZED HEALTH PROGRAM WITH ACTIVITIES
To mitigate the potential effects of the problems detected, employers must provide annual reviews, educational classes, fitness incentives, sports clubs, a healthy environment or any activity that helps control risks and improve their health.
5. ESTABLISH A WELFARE BASE IN THE COMPANY
Decide what the health information center or the person in charge will be. It can be the clinic, the doctor or nurses of the company, human resources, etc. And its objective will be to distribute health information through emails, attractive and educational murals in the cafeteria, rest areas or dining room of the company.
There is no doubt: deciding to improve the health of employees brings real savings in the cost of health care for employees and a better quality of life. Are you already following a health program in your company? Tell us in the comments!
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