Wellness Programs – Do’s and Don’ts

Many employers are implementing wellness programs to improve employee health and create a healthy work environment. These programs are valuable because improved employee health leads to decreases in absenteeism, increased productivity and lower health care costs. Wellness programs vary greatly. In the past, wellness programs often included discounted gym memberships, educational materials and changes in vending machine selections. Wellness programs are becoming far more sophisticated and now often include health risk assessments and biometric screenings which test employees' blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels and body fat. Many programs also include smoking cessation programs, weight loss programs, walking programs and personal counseling sessions. These programs have been credited with helping employees live healthier lives and even saving lives.