Providing health insurance and other fringe benefits for employees of your small business is a large expense that is increasing at alarming rates each year. Many small business owners are faced with the prospect of discontinuing health benefits or cannot offer it to their employees due to the prohibitive costs. Workplace wellness programs may offer a solution and address other issues besides health insurance costs.
Workplace wellness programs have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in larger corporations, due to success at reducing not only health care costs but also absenteeism and employee turnover. And wellness programs enhance the moral of employees resulting in increased productivity, among other things.
As a small business owner, inherent advantages lie within making a wellness program successful since it is easier to change the workplace culture, not to mention the plethora of cost-effective measures available for small businesses.
Like anything, there’s a right way and a wrong way to institute a wellness program. Any approach must be comprehensive in order for it to be successful. An effort such as this must have the involvement company leaders and follow a simple plan with simple goals. Also, an apparatus must be available to employees to exercise and eat better on and off the job.
Many cost-effective options exist to promoting wellness in the workplace. The Wellness Councils of America offer resources and assistance to companies of any size looking to institute a wellness program. Whatever course you take, the health and happiness of your employees has a direct impact on your companys financial health.
