We all know that being healthy is important for our overall happiness and wellbeing, but did you know that it can also have a positive impact on our productivity? Contrary to popular belief, taking care of ourselves doesn’t just make us feel better mentally and emotionally – it makes us more productive and effective workers, too. Having an unhealthy workforce can lead to a significant negative impact on your company’s bottom line.
In recent years, employers have begun looking at the impact of health and wellness on the workplace. Originally, this was a matter of decreasing healthcare costs, but now, more companies are finding that a well-designed health and wellness program can increase employee productivity and motivation, reduce absenteeism, and improve company performance.
In Canada, a report by the Medisys Health Group found that 77% of Canada’s Top 100 Employers have a structured wellness program. Canada’s Top 100 Employers reported that the three most important reasons for implementing an employee wellness program were to increase employee satisfaction and engagement (95%), increase productivity (76%) and to improve corporate reputation (75%). Reducing drug benefit and disability costs were also cited as important factors in implementing a program.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a summary of studies that found connections between overwork and increased injury, unhealthy weight gain, increased smoking and alcohol abuse, poorer health in general and even death.
A study in the United States found that employees who took part in a health and wellness program saved $353 per year in productivity costs, which translates into additional time saved by employees. This isn’t a small amount of money, it can quickly add up if you have a large workforce and the benefits can be significant. The study showed that workers regained an average of 10.3 hours in additional productivity annually.
Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer, an expert in workplace health and a professor at Stanford University, studies the impact of work environments and wellness programs on employee performance. Pfeffer’s research has revealed that unhealthy work environments cost society a staggering estimated $130 billion and 125,000 deaths each year!
With the rise of employees working remotely, new issues surrounding the mental health of remote workers has come to the forefront. Working remotely is a great way to have flexible hours and avoid a long commute, but it can also be taxing on your employee’s emotional and mental wellness. Stress and anxiety are the most common mental health issues that arise from working remotely. These can be caused by a number of things, such as working in isolation, not having a set routine, or feeling overwhelmed with work. It’s important that your company’s health and wellness program takes these issues into account and offers resources to help employees manage their stress and anxiety.
The impact of health and wellness on employee productivity is clear and substantial. Even a small business can drastically improve its bottom line by implementing a wellness program. A health and wellness program is an integral part of a successful business strategy. By implementing a wellness program, a healthy workforce is more likely to be happier and more productive. While this is a long-term investment, a successful wellness program will pay off in the long run.
