Pros and Cons of Corporate Wellness Plans

It is important to consider both the pros and cons of corporate wellness plans. While employee health and wellness is certainly a goal worth striving towards, business owners should always consider the costs and consequences of such an endeavor. If poorly executed, workplace health programs may become an unnecessary company expense. Additionally, employees may feel singled out if emphasis is only placed on a certain areas of employee health-such as weight loss or smoking. However, the benefits of corporate wellness plans are also worth considering. An effective wellness plan may result in higher employee performance and production levels. As well, a significant reduction in company health care costs, make corporate wellness plans a valuable financial option. Carefully considering the benefits and limitations of workplace health programs will allow business owners to choose corporate wellness plans that work best for their company.

The advantages of using corporate wellness plans are many. Promoting the overall well being of one's employees sends a message that the company is truly looking out for each worker's best interests. Good employee health not only lowers a company's health care costs, but also endorses individual employee health and wellness. When each worker is able to perform at his or her highest levels, increases in employee performance and production result. This profits the company both corporately and individually. As well, workplace health programs build a sense of community and support structure for long-term health and wellness. For example if a weight-loss program or running group is started, the employees who join the programs will find themselves surrounded by fellow workers who share the same passions. This sense of community and support system often lasts much longer than the program itself, resulting in long-term employee wellness.

It is also critical to evaluate the negatives associated with corporate wellness plans. Many employers do not consider the costs or consequences of implementing certain programs. Financial planning is crucial to implementing successful workplace health programs. While health care costs will be reduced in the long run, initial start-up costs must be considered. Whether hiring wellness experts, nutritionists, or building an on-site gym, start-up expenses must be accounted for. A carefully crafted financial plan that keeps the company's best interests in mind is critical to the success of every corporate wellness plan. Business owners must ask themselves if a gym is truly necessary or consider how his or her employee's would respond to a weight loss program. A keen understanding of how one's company functions will save business owners who are considering implementing corporate wellness plans, from expending unnecessary funds.

Employers should consider not using funds from their employee's paychecks to pay for the implementation of corporate wellness plans. Most workers already allocate a significant amount of their paycheck towards health care and insurance. Employees may resist workplace health programs that cause them to give up more of their finances. In this case, an employer should consider inexpensive means by which the company can implement wellness goals-such as a weight loss program with a gift card to a popular store as the prize. Another con to consider is that some employees may feel that a corporate wellness program has been specifically targeted at them-especially in the cases of weight loss or smoking. The poor health effects of these conditions are well-known, and often cause pain or embarrassment to employees who struggle with overcoming them to live a healthier lifestyle. Knowing one's company again in this instance, is essential. While some offices may find great success with competitive wellness programs, others may benefit more from an educational health approach. Hiring a wellness expert to offer additional solutions may reduce negative outcomes associated with workplace health programs.

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