We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Worksite Wellness Programs?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,313
Share

Worksite wellness programs are health-related support services offered by employers to their employees. Programs of this type go beyond simply making health insurance available to employees. Often, a well-structured employee wellness program will include proactive elements that are aimed at assisting employees with sustaining good health.

There are a number of possibilities employers can consider when structuring a corporate wellness program. One option is the inclusion of a basic health risk assessment. The assessment may be conducted by a contracted medical professional or by a corporate nurse who is also an employee of the company. An annual assessment can help identify habits that could make the employee more susceptible to health issues and provide him or her with support in changing those habits. For example, if the employee has taken up smoking or experienced some sort of life crisis since the last assessment, the healthcare professional can provide data on programs that can help with the issue, such as smoking cessation or stress management techniques.

A worksite wellness program often includes discounts for use of nearby gyms and health clubs. The company contracts with the health club to pay a small portion of the fee for each employee that signs up for membership. In some cases, the health club may have a working arrangement with the underwriter of the group medical coverage offered through the employer. When this is the case, the employee may receive a lump sum rebate from the underwriter after completing one full year of active health club membership.

True worksite wellness programs do not focus just on the physical aspects of good health. Emotional health is also considered an important part of the process. Employers may retain mental health professionals to assist employees who are stressed or otherwise unsettled by life experiences in and outside the workplace. Together, they can decide what combination of emotional and physical therapy would help the employee regain a healthy outlook and make sure the employee has the resources at hand to overcome current obstacles.

Ongoing programs that are open to any employee at any time are also common elements of worksite wellness programs. Exercise rooms that offer work with free weights as well as aerobics classes are not uncommon. Courses and support groups to help employees deal with overeating, tobacco usage, or divorce recovery are often made available by larger employers. However, even small businesses can often draw on resources in the community to create a support network offering these same types of support services.

In the long run, worksite wellness programs have a number of benefits for both the employer and the employee. Employers can anticipate lower absenteeism, more productivity during working hours, less injuries on the job, and a general increase in employee morale. Employees have access to health support services at reduced and sometimes no cost at all, which means less out of pocket expense. All in all, investing in worksite wellness programs just makes sense for everyone involved.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-worksite-wellness-programs.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.