Top Tips 2020 – 4 Reasons to Create a Culture of Wellness

Article provided by Springfield-Greene County Health Department

Creating a culture of wellness is vital to improving the health and productivity of your workforce and your bottom line.  Creating a culture of wellness means fostering a workplace that encourages and promotes the well-being of your employees. It involves offering ways for employees to be healthier at the workplace and helping them create healthy habits in both their personal and professional lives.

Here are 4 reasons to create a culture of wellness:

1. Employee Productivity – An environment that supports a healthy body and mind will contribute to an effective and efficient workforce. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain causing increased concentration, alertness and energy. Therefore, offering employees the chance to exercise or move at the workplace will improve productivity. Proper nutrition can also improve concentration, alertness and problem-solving skills. There are many ways employers can create opportunities for employees to improve the diet.
2. Reduce absenteeism – Healthier employees are happier and tend to miss less work. Research shows employees who participate in a worksite wellness program cost their employers about 25% less due to absenteeism.
3. Decrease healthcare costs - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic disease and mental health conditions account for 90% of the nation’s annual healthcare costs. By providing a culture of where is it easy to make healthy choices, you can help reduce the risk of your employees developing a chronic disease and improve their quality of life-- while improving you bottom line.
4. Attract and retain employees – Organizational culture is important when attracting and retaining talent. Employees want to feel that they are truly cared for and valued by their organization. A culture of wellness helps employees feel appreciated and supported as they develop healthy habits.

Employee wellness comes in many forms. Wellness programs, health screenings, policy approaches and improvements to the physical workspaces are just a few solutions. Providing an environment that encourages movement, nutrition, and mental wellness will create happier, healthier, and more productive employees.

Not sure where to start? The Springfield-Greene County Health Department offers a free guided program to help employers implement worksite wellness. We offer an evidence-based health promotion approach with interventions and strategies to improve the health and well-being of employees. For more information or to enroll, visit the Health Department's website or contact Julie Viele at jviele@springfieldmo.gov or (417) 864-2077.