The history of workplace wellness
 
The history of workplace wellness programs can be traced back to the mid 1970’s and are largely attributed to “a perceived shift in financial responsibility for health care from government to employer” (1).
 
The workplace wellness programs of today take many forms, including:
 

1. Nutrition and weight management,
2. Smoking cessation programs,
3. Fitness programs, and
4. Alcohol and drug abuse programs (2).  

Employees who participate in a workplace wellness programs are more likely to engage in regular physical activity and actively attempt to control their weight. Experts have suggested that companies with a wellness program see healthcare savings of $3.27 and absenteeism savings of $2.73 for every dollar spent on wellness. While Song and Baicker did not find this result in their 2019 study which involved the ground-up implementation of a workplace wellness program, they suggest this is likely due to growing pains in the program and that the cost savings suggested above would be realized once the program was widely accepted by employees. The key takeaway here for employers who are interested in implementing a wellness program in that they should stick with the program and not expect instant cost savings but rather, play the long game and take satisfaction in the fact that their employees will be healthier because of it.
 
How to get started
 
If you are interested in beginning a workplace wellness program for your employees, you may be unsure where to start. But, don’t worry, these programs can be as simple or complex as you are ready to launch, and can be built up as time and resources allow. For example, it can be as simple as providing employees with a discounted gym membership or as complex as an organized program that has in-person coaching on things such as at desk stretching, manual materials handling, and more by qualified kinesiology practitioners. Other employers opt for a more goal-oriented approach providing employees with fitness tracking technology such as step counters and challenging employees to meet certain goals while providing employees incentives for reaching the goal.
 
One of the biggest challenges in implementing a wellness program is employee participation. While some will be eager to have the opportunity, others may resist. A 2019 study identified some of the reasons why employees may be hesitant to engage in a workplace wellness program. They found that limited availability of the program, access to shower facilities, and the workplace culture of the business itself impacted participation levels (5). The key points to take away here are that the program must suit your employees’ individual needs and schedules, and the company must be a strong advocate for the program, for it to be successful.
 
Next steps
 
At JK Conditioning, we have had the opportunity to help local employers design programs for employees that will engage in activities like manual materials handling, confined space work, and long duration stress positions, like sitting during the workday.
 
Crafting a well thought out and effective workplace wellness program may seem like a daunting task. Consider though, that once you have fostered and allowed that program to grow, you will very likely be left with a healthier, more satisfied workforce that could potentially result in cost savings for many years to come.
 

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Footnotes:
 

1. Rucker, M. (2016, May 20). The Interesting History of Workplace Wellness. The Interesting History of Workplace Wellness by Mike Rucker, Ph.D.
2. Mattke, S., Liu, H., Caloyeras, J., Huang, C.Y., Van Busum, K.R., Khodyakov, D., Shier, V. (2013). Workplace Wellness Programs Study. Rand Health Quarterly, 3(2)
3. Song, Z., Baicker, K. (2019). Effects of a Workplace Wellness Program on Employee Health and Economic Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 321(15), 1491-1501. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3307
4. Song, Z., Baicker, K. (2019). Effects of a Workplace Wellness Program on Employee Health and Economic Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 321(15), 1491-1501. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3307
5. Seward, M.W., Goldman, R.E., Linakis, S.K., Werth, P., Roberto, C.A., Block, J.P. (2019). Showers, Culture, and Conflict Resolution: A Qualitative Study of Employees’ Perceptions of Workplace Wellness Opportunities. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(10), 829-835. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001671