By Michael Selinger

[Ed note: For many years, businesses have increasingly noticed the beneficial impact of a healthy working environment for the welfare of their staff. Not only are there obvious health benefits for their workers, but there is also a clear correlation between a healthy workforce, leading to less sick days and more engaged and productive workers. This has led many organisations to embrace the introduction of a health and wellbeing program – but what are these programs and would they benefit your organisation? Please read on to find out more about health and wellbeing programs from our Editor-in-Chief, Michael Selinger… Part 2 of this topic will be in your Health & Safety Bulletin on Thursday.]

Health and wellbeing programs – what are they and do they work? Part 1

The idea behind health and wellbeing programs is that the welfare of your staff is not simply an individual or personal matter for each employee, but rather something that a business can take a proactive step in promoting.

Not only is this consistent with the obligations imposed on an employer under the safety laws to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health of its workforce, but it is also an approach that can place your organisation in front of its competitors by being identified as an organisation with a commitment to support its staff.

While health and wellbeing programs vary in their content and approach, a number of them are targeting at improving the following:

• mental health;
• energy levels;
• weight management;
• blood pressure;
• sleep patterns; and
• nutrition.

6 benefits of health and wellbeing programs

Some of the key areas where employees have identified a benefit from health and wellbeing programs include:

• Improved morale;
• Better teamwork and social networks;
• Increased productivity;
• Reduced absenteeism;
• Higher job satisfaction; and
• Stronger engagement.

Thursday’s Health & Safety Bulletin will look in more detail at what is involved in a health and wellbeing program and how to establish one.