Workplace Health – The Benefits
The Benefits of Workplace Health and Wellbeing Programmes
As the NHS struggles to cope with rising demand, an ageing population and a social care crisis. The pressure is escalating with the increase in 21st-century illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia.
The issue is, most new-age health problems can be prevented by making better lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, most of the work the NHS does is reactive. There are limited resources to provide health promotion and support for people to make changes to their health before it’s too late.
That’s where you come in!
I am sure you have heard the term Corporate Social Responsibility. This area is constantly expanding and should now include a workplace health and wellbeing strategy.
Do you think you should be doing something to help improve the health of your employees? Are you unsure that a workplace health programme will add any value to your employee’s wellbeing or your business? Here are some of the top benefits of implementing such programmes;
HEALTH AND WELLBEING AT WORK INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY
Poor productivity at work is known as presenteeism – this is defined as physically being at work but not working. Current research estimates that for every £1 a business loses to absenteeism, they are additional losses of £2.50 to presenteeism!
There are many reasons why employees have low productivity. They may be distracted by other employees, they may be tired, or they might be on LinkedIn!
But one of the main causes of presenteeism is poor health! 
Smokers are 28% more likely to have high presenteeism than non-smokers. Employees with an unhealthy diet are 66% more likely to have high presenteeism than those who regularly eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Those who don’t exercise very much are 50% more likely to have high presenteeism than employees who regularly exercise. Figures demonstrate that poor health behaviours are strongly associated with high levels of presenteeism.
Wellbeing programmes that focus on helping employees have good health behaviours will eventually have an impact on productivity.
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLBEING CAN DECREASE ABSENTEEISM
Workplaces with comprehensive health and wellbeing programmes can experience reduced absenteeism. Lower absenteeism happens when:
- Employees have good health behaviours
- Employees can control their stress levels
- Employees have healthy blood pressure levels
- Employees are not overweight or obese
Health and wellbeing programmes can improve employee health. This can have an impact on whether individuals are absent from work or not. Also, employees who feel valued and cared for by their employer will have high morale and are significantly less likely to be absent from work too.
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMMES REDUCE ELEVATED HEALTH RISKS
Good workplace health and wellbeing programmes must be employee focused; helping people to adopt healthy behaviours.
Elevated blood glucose levels, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure are almost all caused by unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity. https://inhousehealth.co.uk/danger-high-blood-pressure/
Reductions in elevated health risks are important. For every 1% drop in total cholesterol – the risk of having a heart attack drops by 2 to 3%. For every one-point drop in elevated diastolic blood pressure, there is a further 2 to 3% drop in cardiovascular disease risk.
Low health risks are the foundation of good health, and workplace health programmes are a fantastic way to help employees avoid these elevated risks.
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMMES IMPROVE EMPLOYEE HEALTH BEHAVIOURS
With appropriate education, skills, motivation and social support, people can change their behaviours for the better. Workplace health and wellbeing programmes are good at helping people adopt and maintain healthy behaviours. This is conceivably the biggest benefit of having a workplace health programme in place.
Healthy behaviours lead to lower health risks and lower health risks lead to fewer chronic diseases. With fewer chronic diseases, employees have fewer health problems that result in less time off work.
ARE YOU CONVINCED?
Lots of research to support the benefits of workplace health and wellbeing has been undertaken. This research supports the fact that a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme is going to improve employee health and improve your organisation’s bottom line.
It is not going to make all your problems go away, but it is going to help you create a great workplace health culture. Workplace health will also help boost and maintain employee morale.
With an effective workplace health and wellbeing programme in place, you will not only improve the lives of your employees but you will help drive the success of your business.