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Last month MetLife released their annual Employee Benefits Trends Study – the eighth in the series. One of the focuses in the study was Wellness Programs and their benefits to employers and employees.

Wellness programs are a form of preventative medicine, educating people on how to life a healthier lifestyle.

Why would you need a Wellness Program?

Many employees claim they deal with a lot of stress on the job. This is particularly true in today’s economy.

68% of the employees surveyed for the report stated that the current economic crisis has caused them to feel insecure about their job stability and worried about their finances leading to a decrease in their job performance. In many cases, layoffs have also increased their work load.

All of this leads to stress which gives rise to health issues, a no win situation for both the employee and the employer.

What should your Wellness Program include?

• Regular Checkups
• Weight Loss Programs
• Exercise Programs
• Diet & Nutrition Education
• Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Management
• Smoking Cessation Programs

Wellness Programs lead to:

Better health which leads to…

• Improved Employee Productivity
• A Decrease in Absenteeism
• Lower Medical Costs
• Fewer Disability Claims
• Greater Employee Loyalty

Wellness Programs make perfect sense for both employers and employees.

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Creating a Healthy Workplace

With the rising costs of healthcare and group health insurance, more and more attention is being focused on employee wellness. Healthier employees mean less absenteeism, fewer medical needs and ultimately lower medical costs and health insurance premiums.

Initially, programs were launched to encourage employees to live a healthier lifestyle by eating better and exercising to lose weight; by quitting smoking; by decreasing alcohol consumption; and finding ways to reduce stress.

Professionals now realize that additionally an important facet of any employee wellness program is to create a healthy workplace.

Creating the healthy workplace includes good health management on site, active group wellness activities, a supportive environment for employee wellness programs, and open communications systems. Read the rest of this entry »

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