The need for a Workplace Wellness Program
Workplace wellness programs aim at keeping employees healthy and free of non-communicable diseases. Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are non-infectious, chronic diseases mainly related to lifestyle factors and possible addictions. They are usually developed over a long period of time and have a slow progression rate. The four main NCDs include heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes.
All individuals can be at risk of NCDs, as their main risk factors are directly linked with modifiable behaviours or life style habits. In the United States, 89 per cent of total deaths can be attributed to NCDs.
The World Health Organization has identified four important risk factors that contribute and can be the leading causes of NCDs. These are tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol.
A good workplace wellness program focuses on reducing these four main risk factors as well as focusing on stress management, although not identified by the WHO as a primary source of NCDs, stress is identified by many as an important underlying source of poor lifestyle habits.
The workplace is an important venue to address the prevention of chronic diseases. It is approximated that workers spend two-thirds of their waking lives at the workplace, it therefore an ideal setting for disseminating information and instilling new health habits.
There is a need for action at enterprise level as NCDs have an impact on individual workers and the workplace.
What do Employers Have to Gain?
- Return on investment
- Reduced direct and indirect health care costs
- Reduced absenteeism
- Reduced presenteeism
- Increased productivity
- Decreased staff turnover
- Higher employee motivation and commitment
- Improvement of the company’s image
- Reduced fines & litigations
What do Employees Have to Gain?
- Increased quality of life
- Increased energy level
- Mental wellness
- Reduced risks of heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain and osteoporosis
- Reduced direct and indirect costs of health care
- Increase in job security
What services I offer:
Employee Participatory Action Oriented Training on Implementing a Tailored Wellness Program
Training program for small and medium enterprises to assist in the implementation of a low-cost Workplace Wellness Program tailored to their employees’ needs. This Participatory Action Oriented Training gets the company’s own employees to establish what the needs of the organization are and put in place a wellness program that answers their needs at a minimal low cost. This 7 day training program is given by a facilitator that has knowledge both in health and wellness as well as in the realities that are faced by SMEs.
The purpose of the PAOT Wellness program is to create a work environment that encourages and facilitates employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle while reducing and preventing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
The course is made up of ten sessions, one for each of the six technical units on prevention (NCDs, nutrition, physical exercise, stress management, tobacco and alcohol consumption) as well as an introduction and an action checklist exercise to assess the current situation. It is closed off by a session on building an action plan, a presentation workshop and a final session on monitoring and evaluation.
For further detail, don’t hesitate to contact me.
