According to the HR hub, the term wellness was introduced into business vocabulary about three decades ago, resulting from two developments in the United States, which was the upward spiral of healthcare costs and the increased societal emphasis on fitness and healthy lifestyle.
The mission of wellness in the workplace was initially about coaching employees through various channels in self-responsibility and lifestyle behaviours that influence one’s health, quality of life, work performance, and healthcare use throughout one’s lifetime.
Today, we are seeing an upward trend of disengagement of employees in the workplace, and in order to find a solution for funding challenges of quality healthcare for all, increased productivity is required.
The most recent Gallup studies concurs that typically less than 20% of an organisation’s workforce is engaged and happy at work. Gallup further emphasises that well-being enhances the benefits of employee engagement.
Health and lifestyle
OCSA, the Occupational Care South Africa, who manages absenteeism, states that on average of 15 to 30% of staff could be absent on any given day and one day’s absence can cost a company three days’ worth of salary without active management of absenteeism. Accordingly it has become imperative for employers in conjunction with the healthcare fraternity to design wellness strategies that create a culture of well-being to assist employees to take charge of their health and lifestyle.
It is now important for corporates to begin recognising that the well-being of their employees is not just about physical health. Corporate wellness programmes have existed for a while, but have largely focused on occupational health aspects and are more oriented to blue collar industries. We still need to see great improvement in the white collar sectors where employee wellness has deteriorated and lifestyle diseases are more prevalent than ever, thus resulting in increasing losses for organisations.
Everyday challenges
In South Africa, we are faced with various challenges. The unemployment rate is higher than ever, productivity is at an all-time low, and we are seeing future captains of industry postponing their entry into the market place. These factors lead to an increasingly burdened healthcare sector. Wellness of business translates into a healthy economy. Healthcare is a right, and it has now become an expectation. An employer requires healthy workers to ensure productivity, alternatively the employee expects an employer to make an environment conducive to them being healthy.
Corporates need to always remember that corporate citizenship is free, and they stand to gain more than they would lose. When employees are empowered with information and technology to make smart healthcare choices they will take the right steps in order to make changes to their lifestyle. Approximately 50% of people who know their status tend to make changes.
What is best for your client?
Great wellness programmes require teamwork and personalisation and they should include aspects such as stress management, nutritional knowledge, health screening, safe exercising, disease management, and support groups, to name a few. Healthcare advisers and brokers play a crucial role as they engage with potential and existing members regarding lifestyle choices when choosing medical aid options.
Lifestyle diseases in the workplace are mostly attributable to unhealthy lifestyles, such as inactivity, poor nutrition, poor exercise, poor health and poor performance. Another element is tobacco use and frequent alcohol consumption, which lead to prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and chronic pulmonary conditions. These conditions have become a major burden as they lead to decreased quality of life, premature death, disability and increased healthcare costs.
A broader perspective
We believe that these can be overcome when individuals also begin taking responsibility to ensure a healthier lifestyle. It is important to note that corporate wellness is not just a South African need but a global one.
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