As health care costs continue to rise, employers are looking for ways to better support their employees’ health. According to the CDC, over $4 trillion of the nation's health care expenditures are for people with chronic and mental health conditions. With these costs escalating, employers are asking themselves: How can we better support employee health in the new year? From fostering work-life balance to rewarding healthy habits, here are the top five ways employers can help improve their employees' overall health.
1. Support Employees’ Work-Life Balance
Many employees juggle caregiving responsibilities for dependents, such as children or aging parents, alongside their professional roles. Managers can play a crucial role in helping employees find a balance between work and personal life. Research has shown that supportive management can improve employee health outcomes.
- A study by NIH found that employees had less risk for heart disease and got better sleep when they had supportive managers..
- Another NIH study found that when supervisors show family-supportive behaviors, employee engagement increases, resulting in better job performance. This effect is even stronger in workplaces with a family-supportive culture.
Encouraging managers to help employees strike a balance between their personal and professional lives can improve overall wellness and boost productivity.
2. Examine the Work Culture
Work culture significantly impacts employee wellness. While work culture will evolve whether or not it is intentionally shaped, neglecting it can result in poor outcomes for both employees and the company. A lack of focus on work culture can lead to increased stress, lower wellness levels, and ultimately hinder company performance.
- AIS research shows that 83% of US workers say they suffer from daily work-related stress; and job stress is estimated to cost the US industry more than $300 billion in losses due to absenteeism, diminished productivity, and accidents.
Leaders should take an active role in fostering a culture that supports healthy behaviors and wellness initiatives to ensure long-term success.
3. Provide Employees with More Autonomy
Work-related stress costs the United States $190 billion in annual healthcare costs.
“If I give my employees freedom, will productivity suffer?” If you’ve hired the right people, they will take ownership over their work and be more involved. Letting employees choose how to work, when to work, and what kind of performance goals they pursue helps them feel more involved in their roles and allows them to strike the right balance between taking care of themselves and getting their work done.
One study found that higher levels of job autonomy are positively associated with psychological well-being, and that job autonomy does not lead to negative outcomes like work stress. In fact, higher levels of job autonomy are associated with lower levels of work stress.
It may seem counterintuitive to some, but for many employers who have given employees more autonomy and empowerment, the results speak for themselves.
4. Create a Corporate Wellness Strategy
What can companies do to promote employee health? Research shows that implementing a structured health and wellness program, complete with proper incentives, can help employers reduce healthcare costs and prevent productivity losses due to chronic illness.
- The average return on investment for employee wellness programs is 6:1, meaning every dollar spent on wellness programs generates a significant return in terms of improved employee health and reduced healthcare costs.
5. Incentivize Healthy Behaviors with CVS® Gift Cards
Incentivizing employees to adopt healthy behaviors is a great way to encourage wellness in the workplace. Whether you want to incentivize your employees to get vaccines or want to give them access to healthy products, CVS gift cards are ideal.
Here are some benefits of using CVS gift cards, available through the Engage2Reward™ Gift Card Ordering Platform:
- Over 8,000 CVS locations nationwide, making it easy for employees to access healthcare products.
- Low initial purchase requirement and fast fulfillment service.
- Customizable gift card options, including digital delivery via email or text.
Our Engage2Reward™ Platform simplifies the process of rewarding employees for making healthier choices. Through our platform, you can order both physical and digital CVS gift cards quickly and easily, and send them directly to employees via email or text. Plus, you can personalize the delivery with custom messages or images to make them even more impactful.
The Engage2Reward Platform also gives you the flexibility to choose the right reward for your specific wellness goals, whether you want to motivate employees to get vaccines, adopt healthier habits, or access health-related products. It’s an easy-to-use, powerful tool for enhancing your employee wellness initiatives.
Conclusion
Are healthy employees more productive? With estimated billions lost every year due to workplace stress, the answer is clear. By taking a proactive approach to workplace wellness, you can foster a culture that rewards healthier choices and ultimately boosts productivity across your organization.
