A Health Promotion Program is an organized program to assist and support employees in establishing healthier lifestyles. This can include increasing worker awareness on health topics, scheduling behavior change programs, and/or establishing business policies that support health-related goals.
Programs and policies that promote increased physical activity, use of tobacco prevention and cessation, and healthful food selections are several examples.
Dimensions of Wellness
Health Promotion is more than fitness. In addition to fitness, the dimensions of optimal health include
• Spiritual Wellness
• Emotional Wellness
• Social Wellness
• Intellectual Wellness
These dimensions are often depicted as a “life wheel” with examples of health components that include –
• fitness,
• nutrition,
• purpose in life,
• financial planning,
• social connections and support systems,
• stress management,
• mind-body health,
• career planning and
• continued learning.
The key for individual health is keeping the “life wheel” in balance. A extensive health promotion program addresses most, if not all, of these dimensions.
Why Employee Health Promotion?
Staff Members spend a great deal of time on the job, and the truth is that our traditional work-week is increasing. In fact, the typical American now works about 47 hours per week.
Plus, technologies like modems, laptops, cellular phones, voice and email have blurred the work-life boundary. These realities cut down on the amount of time that the typical individual is able to devote to wellness pursuits, and yet staff members are expected to be at top performance when at work.
A recent research study by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses found that employee health promotion or health promotion programs are successful in assisting staff members make positive health changes due to several factors such as convenience, environmental support, and colleague or social acceptance.
What’s the Link between Health Promotion and the Workplace?
Programs and policies that promote healthful behaviors can make a big difference on staff member health promotion AND have an impact on the corporation’s bottom line. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested by companys in corporate health promotion/health promotion programs, there were savings ranging from $1.49 to $4.91 with a median savings of $3.14*.
In company terms, that’s more than a 3 – 1 minimum return on investment – a number that is hard to ignore, and a best practice that should warrant serious consideration from businesses.
In fact, a company health promotion literature review posted in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found –
• 19 studies found a 28.3 percent reduction in sick time
• 16 studies demonstrated a 5.6 – 1 return on investment
• 23 showed a 26.1% reduction in health care costs
• 4 found a 30 percent reduction in direct medical and workers’ compensation claims
There is little doubt that a robust health promotion program targeted to meet a corporation’s specific needs can save money by reducing absenteeism, lowering health care expenditures, reducing worker turnover, and increasing productivity.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003
Corporate Wellness Companies