Impact of wellness programs on employee productivity

KPIs are set to be met, but what happens when results fall short?

When the Net Profit Margin is low and the burn rate is high?

What happens when the HR department reports low employee productivity and high Recruiting Conversion Rate?

What should managers do?

The popular saying is to go back to the drawing table.

I am almost certain that if the management of many organisations go back to that proverbial table and look close enough they will find how employee ill health has heavily impacted productivity negatively.

Employees not only lose productive time to sick leaves and absenteeism, but also to presenteeism- a situation where sick employees show up to work but barely get any work done.

According to a 2012 Washington Post report, lost productivity and absenteeism during sick days cost employers close to $576 billion annually.

How can managers solve this problem?

A very simple and proactive answer is incorporating a wellness program. Wellness programs are put in place to improve employee health and promote wellness both in and out of the work environment.

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Researchers in an August 2017 study found that companies who offered wellness programs for their employees saw a great gain in productivity, an average of one full workday per month!

Wellness programs will boost productivity by

1. Reducing absenteeism and presenteeism — Ill health is a leading driver of these two phenomena. Putting a program in place to improve employee health behaviours and mitigate risks will help reduce the amount of downtime and productivity loss due to absenteeism and presenteeism
2. Reducing stress on your team — A good wellness program incorporates stress management exercises to optimise working hours and keep the team at its most productive state
3. Identifying health risks — Health assessments and examinations help identify behaviours among employees that might keep their health at risk. Behaviours like an unhealthy diet, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and others raise the risk of developing chronic conditions. Regular assessments will identify these risks and proffer solutions to mitigate them
4. Improving employee retention and company reputation — People go to places that are well-spoken of- holiday spots, concerts, and even workplaces. Incorporating a wellness program will boost your company’s reputation and help retain your best hands, maintaining your workflow at a productive level.

What are your thoughts on wellness programs?

Does your organisation have one?