The Financial Post recently ran an article about a small business owner in Waterloo Ontario who plans to grow organic food to distribute to his staff members in the hopes that this will help his company to attract and retain skilled talent. Beyond the potential to attract and retain talent this could also improve employee health and subsequently, productivity.

Certainly the benefits of employee health programs are numerous, as outlined in the recent WHO/World Economic Forum report Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases in the Workplace through Diet and Physical Activity. The report touts benefits of employee diet and exercise programs that include better health and morale, company image, productivity and reduced “turnover and absenteeism.”

Many creative programs exist, but a point of controversy revolves around the question of how involved an employer should become in employee personal lifestyle choices. This is a point that Jay Jamrog elaborates on in his article Wellness Programs: Remedy or Risk?, which can be found in part on crm.hr.com.

As if confirming the importance of these types of programs, 88% of the 508 executives who responded to Hewitt’s 2008 Health Care Survey “plan to make ‘significant investments in longer term solutions aimed at improving the health and productivity of [their] workers” over the next few years. Furthermore, the survey indicates that employee health is now seen as a “business issue” that is high on the priority list. It therefore appears that health and wellness initiatives will play an increasingly important role in improving employee productivity.

The WHO/World Economic Forum report cited below presents many suggestions on how to implement an employee wellness or health initiative.

A healthy employee is a more productive employee. But health issues extend beyond diet, exercise and lifestyle when it comes to employee wellness. The Globe and Mail recently ran a number of articles on mental health and the workplace, providing examples of employees who do not feel adequately supported by their employers. For example – according to a Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace poll – while 18% of Canadian workers have struggled with clinical depression, the same poll showed that “employees feel the workplace is where they are least likely to get support.”

What role does health and wellness play in your company’s approach to improving performance and productivity?

References:

Hewitt Associates. “Two Roads Diverged: Hewitt’s Annual Health Care Survey 2008.” Hewitt Associates [www.hewittassociates.com]. 2008.

Jamrog, Jay. “Wellness Programs: Remedy or Risk?” Institute for Corporate Productivity [www.i4cp.com]. March 28, 2008.

Malhomme, Stephane. “A plot to attract talent.” Financial Post [www.financialpost.com]. June 23, 2008.

Picard, André. “The working wounded.” Globe and Mail.com, June 22, 2008.

“Workplace programmes can improve health – study.” Reuters, May 19, 2008.

World Health Organization/World Economic Forum. “Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases in the Workplace through Diet and Physical Activity.” 2008.