If you’re wondering whether or not a corporate wellness programme might benefit your company, make sure you know what you’re doing! According to Joshua Love, the president of national corporate wellness company Kinema Fitness, ‘As the president of a corporate wellness company, Kinema Fitness, I have noticed a recent trend in the way companies are approaching employee-based wellness programmes. Namely, companies are taking employee wellness more seriously now. They are truly trying to figure out the right solution to combat rising health issues and healthcare costs. Unfortunately, too many companies are trying to implement wellness programmes with little to no experience or game plan for success. As a result, more programs fail than succeed.’
But where are these companies going wrong? Love notes, ‘Corporate wellness cannot be treated as a band-aid, and you definitely won’t be able to find it in a fitness app. Engagement, motivation, support and strategy are the keys to a successful programme. If employees are not involved in the solution, it’s difficult to succeed. Preventable wellness is a complete lifestyle and behaviour change and change takes time and commitment.’ So here are a few things to bear in mind when you’re designing a wellness programme for your company:
1. A Higher Level of Awareness is Essential: People ‘are becoming more and more health conscious,’ admits Love. ‘But due to higher stress, longer work days and constant multitasking, it is more difficult to find the time to act on wellness goals. Creating an on-site wellness programme is important because the majority of an employee’s time is spent at the workplace.’
2. Many Chronic Diseases are Preventable: Love points out, ‘According to the CDC, chronic diseases account for 75% of total healthcare costs. They are also the most preventable type of disease. Such illnesses include heart disease, stroke, cancer and obesity. The only way to prevent disease is with actionable steps to halt progression. When old habits are years in the making, you cannot expect behaviour change to happen overnight. However, when a person is able to commit mentally, emotionally and socially and on a conscious level, progress is possible. An employee wellness programme needs to address this through consistent education and layers of accountability.’
3. Be creative: ‘Corporate wellness shouldn’t be boring,’ Love asserts. ‘Creating unique and dynamic programmes that consistently evolve over time ensure the best possibility of long-term success. Human beings need to be challenged and stimulated in different ways and different means to create change. Challenge your programme to stay on the latest trends; it will help to appoint a wellness lead that takes direct responsibility over the operations.’
4. Combat Rising Healthcare Costs: ‘Healthcare costs are rising year after year,’ notes Love. ‘Employers, especially those at small companies, can simply not afford to take on this burden any longer. As a result, they are passing the costs on to their employees through higher deductibles. But healthier employees can actually help their own bottom line. Some employers are now lowering employee’s contributions with rebates if they do participate in a wellness programme.’
5. Corporate Wellness is Complex and Long-Term: Love argues, ‘The success of corporate wellness is driven by the unique strategy behind it. It involves a framework that outlines short and long-term goals for the employee and the employer. Corporate wellness needs support, leadership, commitment from the vendor, employer and employees. A successful programme takes time and constantly evolves so it can be integrated into the fabric of the company’s culture. Corporate wellness is not just one solution. It is the culmination of many solutions that work together under one strategy. It involves layers of physical activity, education, communication, incentives, and a long-term commitment.’