A Health Promotion Program is an organized health promotion program to assist and support workers in establishing healthier life choices. This can include increasing worker awareness on health topics, scheduling behavior modification programs, and/or establishing organization policies that support health-related goals.
Programs and policies that promote increased physical activity, tobacco use avoidance and cessation, and healthy food selections are several examples.
Wellness Dimensions
Wellness is more than fitness. In addition to fitness, the dimensions of optimal health include
o Spiritual Dimension of Wellness
o Emotional Dimension of Wellness
o Social Dimension of Wellness
o Intellectual Wellness Dimension
These Wellness Dimensions are often depicted as a “life wheel” with examples of health components that include -
o fitness,
o nutrition,
o purpose in life,
o financial planning,
o social connections and support systems,
o stress management,
o mind-body health,
o career planning and
o continued learning.
The key for individual health is keeping the “life wheel” in balance. A comprehensive wellness program addresses most, when not all, of these dimensions.
Why Employee Health Promotion?
Employees spend a excellent deal of time on the job, and the truth is that our traditional work-week is increasing. In truth, the average American now works about 47 hours per week.
Plus, technologies such as 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 personnel are expected to be at top performance when at work.
A recent research study by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses found that company wellness or wellness programs are successful in assisting staff members make positive health changes because of a few factors like convenience, environmental support, and peer or social acceptance.
What is the Link between Wellness and the Workplace?
Programs and policies that promote healthful behaviors could make a large difference on worker health promotion AND have an impact on the corporation’s bottom line. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested by businesss 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 companies.
Indeed, a corporate health promotion literature review posted in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found -
o 19 studies found a 28.3 percent reduction in sick leave
o 16 studies demonstrated a 5.6 – 1 return on investment
o 23 showed a 26.1 percent reduction in health care costs
o 4 found a 30 percent reduction in direct medical and workers’ compensation claims
There is little doubt that a comprehensive health promotion program targeted to meet a organization’s specific needs can save money by decreasing absenteeism, lowering healthcare expenditures, decreasing worker turnover, and increasing productivity.
o United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2003
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