Chapter 13

Concept and Brief Discussion:

Employee Wellness Program (EWP): This is a set of communications, activities, and facilities designed to change health-related behaviors in ways that reduce health risks (p. 376). Typically, employee wellness programs aim at reducing risk factors like blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and obesity. All these things can lead to chronic and acute heart problems, as well as many other system failures. Employers can provide services to their employees in a couple of ways. Passive programs provide information and services, but no formal support or motivation to use the program. Examples include health education and fitness facilities. Active wellness programs assume take on a much more proactive role and may include counselors who tailor programs to individual employees' needs.

The Hook:

As an employee of a busy firm where your time is stretched thin, you don't feel like you can make a commitment to go to the gym every day. You would like to be more active and can tell that your energy levels are affecting your performance. If your company were to provide on site facilities with showers and a locker room, how much more likely would you start exercising?

Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:

Employee wellness programs can cost a company a lot of money, however the benefits can far outweigh the costs. Workers will have more energy, morale will increase, and the overall health of the company will improve. Many insurance companies these days will give employees and employers discounts on insurance for participating in such programs too. I think every company should have some sort of wellness program or guidelines for their employees, even if it just involves an educational component.

Facilitative Questions:

What does having a good wellness program at a company say about their commitment to employees? Have any of your employers offered gym memberships at a discount or had on site facilities? How do you think a wellness program can help an organization?