Focus on employee wellness may give organizations a competitive edge

Wednesday, 13 July 2011 16:00

News - Corporate Wellness Programs

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During rough economic times, company administrators will often do whatever they can to give themselves a leg up on the competition. Research company Gallup has suggested that one way businesses can do this is by focusing on employee wellness.

According to Gallup, a company's bottom line can be significantly helped or hindered depending on the mental and physical well-being of its staff.

"Everyday, in most organizations, there are employees who don't show up, don't give their best effort, erode organizational productivity and cost their employers millions of dollars because of poor mental and physical health," the company reported on its website.

Conversely, a healthy staff may improve an organization's profits.

A study led by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin, published in the Internet Journal of Academic Physician Assistants, revealed that employee wellness programs can save both time and money, as well as strengthen employee performance. Additionally, organizations that provided such interventions boasted less absenteeism, stronger employee retention and lower costs stemming from employee health benefits, according to the researchers.