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Why are employee wellness programs important? | Hong Kong

Workplace Wellness is more important then you think

May 15, 2022

The Importance of a Proper Employee Wellness Program | Hong Kong

It’s important to have a customized and proper employee wellness program in place that's been validated and vetted. Your employee’s wellness affects your company’s business performance in more ways than you think. A proper workplace wellness program can lower health care costs, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and raise employee morale.

The purpose of wellness programs is to improve employees’ well-being and wellness by encouraging them to live healthier lifestyles for example losing weight, stop smoking, eating healthier and exercising more. Corporate wellness initiatives include health education classes, subsidized use of fitness facilities and internal policies or programs that promote flexible working hours, work life balance and employee assistant programs.

Reasons to Implement a Corporate Wellness Program in Your Organization

Curb the Cost of Health Insurance

The cost of health care can be a sizable portion of a company’s budget which ultimately affects the bottom line. Strategically targeting this expense not only improves employee wellness but will can improve your balance sheet. Employees with more health risk factors, such as being overweight, is a smoker, has diabetes costs more to insure. You will pay more for health care for unhealthy employees than employees with lower risk factors.

A well thought out wellness program can help employees with high risk factors make lifestyle changes to improve their quality of life and reduce their health care costs, at the same time encouraging employees with fewer risk factors to stay healthy.

Reduce Workers’ Compensation and Disability Costs

Employees who have a healthy lifestyle have lower health risk factors leading to a decreased chance of a workplace injury, illness or disability. Consequently, reducing costs not just on insurance premiums and benefits paid out, but also costs that are involved for recruiting and training a new employee to replace the current worker who is absent for health reasons.

Increase Employee Productivity and Fewer Missed Days

Healthier employees mean fewer sick days, which is another benefit companies can achieve through workplace wellness programs. Plus, conscious healthier activities may translate into positive family lifestyle choices, therefore decreasing missed for due to caring for ill family members. In addition, healthier employees tend to be more productive since they are not coming to work ill or are worried about their family’s health problems. Increased productivity and reduced absenteeism can return significant cost savings.

Higher Morale and Strengthened Employee Retention

A company that cares about its employees’ health is seen as a better place to work, and workplace wellness programs can attract top talent in a competitive market giving your firm a competitive advantage. By showing you are committed to improving your employees’ health and wellness your creating a sense of belonging and improving employee morale hence decreasing employee turnover. Employees are more likely to remain loyal and less likely to leave if they feel valued and well taken care of.

Benefits of a Corporate Wellness Program

  • Increased motivation to improve health and change behaviour to make healthier life choices
  • Increased well-being, improved self-image and higher self-esteem
  • Improved coping skills that cause mental strain such as stress, burnout and anxiety.
  • Reduced risk for developing chronic or life-threatening conditions
  • Increase employee productivity and mora

For more information on what is corporate wellness please click here

Partner with LivEvexia to Customise your Corporate Wellness Program | Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, employees work 20% more than the International Labour Organisation recommendations. Employees in Hong Kong spend on average 7 – 12 waking hours at the office hence the workplace is an ideal setting to address health and wellness issues.

Its important to note, each company has its individual identity, philosophy and culture. One size does not fit all, having a customized and proper workplace wellness program can ensure successful implementation and maximizing results. LivEvexia understands this and can create a tailor-made workplace wellness program that blends seamlessly into your company philosophy which has also been vetted by the International Well building Institute to ensure it reaches global standards.