My Perspective on Employee Wellness Programs

When I speak to Corporate America it is not unusual for someone in management to corner me at the first break and accuse me of appearing under “false pretenses”. They often think I came to push a company Wellness Program. Their understanding is that I was there to speak on, “Improving Efficiency and Productivity in the Workplace”. And there is some truth to that accusation because I do not start my talk by appearing to cheerlead for the company. After all, how many employees actually care about efficiency and productivity in the workplace unless there is a bonus attached? What the employees do care about is having some energy after work so they can play with their children, or go bowling, or not fall asleep at church during the minister’s sermon. They want to have enough energy to have some fun in their lives. They want…LESS STRESS! But if we look carefully at the desires of management and the desires of the employees we find that we can obtain both. They are, in fact, the opposite sides of the same coin.

Wellness is a Two-Sided Coin

On one side of the coin, management wants employees who have the energy, the well-being, both physically and psychologically, to be productive. You cannot be productive if your employees are constantly taking sick days. Management needs employees who have the energy to put in a full days work. They need alert employees, because if the employees become lethargic, mistakes begin to raise their ugly head and efficiency drops. On the other side of the coin, the employees want more energy so that they aren’t tired at the end of their work schedule just when their family’s needs need to be met. They don’t want to have to choose between family’s needs and the company’s needs because this will cause more stress in their life and decrease their self-esteem and self-worth. Employers don’t want this either because the company will lose nine out of ten times. So my goal when I make those appearances is to satisfy the needs and fulfill the desires of the employees. We discuss ways in which they can have more energy throughout the day, particularly when they arrive home. We discuss exercises, both physical and mental, which will help them reduce the stress that they are experiencing in their lives, increase their energy, and increase their self-esteem and self-worth. Upon reaching these goals the employees become happier and energized which increases the efficiency of the labor force and also makes them more productive. These techniques and activities are part of most Wellness Programs. In Texas, we have a quote, which I use to explain the Wellness Program solution to management. You have probably heard one variation or another. It goes, “When Momma’s happy, everyone’s happy!”

Wellness is a Win/Win for the Employer and the Employee