Programs expand their focus and work on employee engagement.
by Jacqueline von Ogden
Whether you're the owner of a large or a small business, the thought of your employees staying well has undoubtedly crept into your mind. Not a business owner? Concerned about your health or a coworker's? Then read on as we discuss employee wellness and its future.
Past
The thought of keeping employees well is not a new concept. Health screenings, discounts for gym memberships and weight loss programs have been around for years. When the concept of employee wellness was introduced decades ago on a public level, the concepts of blood levels, baselines and employee awareness were just at the beginning.
How has the concept changed? As with any new idea or concept, acceptance was the big barrier to the '80s and '90s. And it wasn't just the acceptance; it was also the participation. The focus of the past related to making changes within one's lifestyle, whether it was to start an exercise regime or stop smoking. The big picture, or the long-term outcomes on the employee's health and life, may not have been pushed. And though there was a personal gain from “getting healthy,” the financial gain for organizations and individuals was noted. Additionally, the thought of “being happy” was not always considered. A healthy, or well, employee many times correlated to one who was fit and had regular checkups while managing health. Mental health, stability, happiness and life satisfaction weren't necessarily part of the picture. The U.S. Department of Labor states that the average worker spends one third of his/her life working. Are workers getting happier, but more important, are they now healthier?
Present
With today's wellness, the idea of stopping the further onset of health-related issues appears to be at the forefront for many organizations. And as Tami Janda, wellness coordinator at Centier Bank, points out, identification is key with prevention. “Identifying health risks is huge. Only half of our job is screening itself, the other half is answering the question, ‘What are we doing about this problem?'” Janda notes the idea of convenience is important within the working world, but the idea of better health seems more important to employees. “Something has triggered,” Janda says of the program. “We have seen participation double within the last few months.”
And that something is not just the idea of better health, but also includes the pieces to make an individual happier and healthier. “The older generation was brought up with wellness in mind,” says Tim Ross, regional director of occupational/employee health at Working Well.
“Wellness as a whole has changed,” says Ross, noting that the younger generations have the potential to be a “sicker” generation. “The idea is to keep the employee engaged. We have a wellness portal, allowing employees to have the ability to track where they are within each component of the program.”
He also notes the importance of technological advances in how information is stored and presented. “So many people are visual,” says Ross. “In the old days, one might receive an annual computer-generated report. No one would keep that and go through it. Now, everything is at your fingertips.”
The push years back may have seemed like a focus on blood work, but it was really about getting a baseline. After all, as Ross points out, “The first thing one does when hoping to improve is to take a baseline of where they are at.”
Ross contrasts wellness now with what it was earlier. “Ten years ago, it was big companies doing this. Biometric screenings to create a baseline. Now, health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) become part of the program,” says Ross. “We're also working on an application. Larger companies are usually ahead of the curve, and they have been. Today we are seeing municipalities, manufacturing and all different types of industries interested and participating.” A typical HRA is an employer-funded spending account, which employees can use to pay for specific medical expenses.”
But will the technological advances help? Will additional technology management be the key to getting more involved in health management? Ben Evans, CEO and cofounder of OurHealth, a total health management solution, notes that technological advances are beneficial and describes his organization's usage of health coaches as the next logical step.
OurHealth coaches actually individualize a plan for employees. “We don't want to just get people healthy,” says Evans. “We want to keep them healthy.” The plan goes a step further by incorporating health issues, eating habits, motivation levels, self-confidence and mood to determine a plan for the employee. The health coach then “coaches” an individual throughout this process via individual, group or telephonic offerings. “When someone goes to a clinic and receives results from a screening, the health coach could give them the results. We bring the employee and the health coach together right away.”
Janda notes that the business side of the wellness programs over the years has been beneficial. “We are not seeing as many claims and we are saving costs off the plan itself,” says Janda. “But more importantly, we are saving lives. It is worth it.”
Future
What will the future hold for wellness programs? “We are changing people's lives,” says Pamela Johnson, wellness supervisor of Healthy U @ Work, “but I see the focus changing.” Johnson notes that getting to the root cause of the problem, issue or roadblock to wellness will most likely be the core of future wellness.
Janda notes potential trends for the future of wellness, referencing the various dimensions of wellness. The National Wellness Institute describes the dimensions of wellness as occupational, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual and emotional. The long-used definition by the institute defines wellness as an active process through which people become aware of and make choices toward a more successful existence.
Johnson believes wellness in Northwest Indiana is on par to becoming as big as the culture for safety programs for businesses. “Safety programs have been huge for this area. Everyone focuses on safety. It is the norm,” says Johnson. “I see wellness being that next big program. Companies will start to promote the importance of wellness and taking the next step.”
Johnson does not believe this new concept or promotion will take long to become the norm within the area, noting that more people are in tune with their health. “Everyday wellness has to come from the top down, and it will. Statistics have shown that we know how to be safe and over time have improved safety,” says Johnson. “What makes the worker safe now? Their health.”
