Corporate Wellness Program Benefits

Corporate wellness programs are a great way to foster a healthier and happier workforce. For the employee, they are designed to:

• Improve health risk factors
• Create healthier behaviours
• Lower stress levels
• Increase job satisfaction
• Earn incentives

And for the employer, the benefits are equally attractive. They include:

• Enhance employee morale and retention
• Increase productivity
• Reduce healthcare costs

Depending on the size of the company, a variety of initiatives can be offered to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Bigger companies will typically have a more robust wellness program with more options. Most wellness program incentives are participation-based rather than outcome-based. This means incentives can be earned by just participating, as opposed to meeting certain health markers.

Get the Support You Need

Women over 40, especially working mothers, may have less time to find resources on their own to improve their health. Responsibilities at work, raising a family, having a social life outside of work, and prioritizing health all make work-life balance difficult. Corporate wellness programs make getting healthy easier and more accessible because you can participate while at work.

Health coaching is a service provided by most wellness programs that provides awareness, accountability, and support. Women in the workplace need help preventing burnout while trying to manage work-life balance. Burnout often coincides with depression, anxiety, unhealthy eating patterns, and sleep disturbances, and unfortunately, women who experience it often have a hard time putting their needs before others, and their emotional health is overlooked.

Fortunately, wellness programs can help improve emotional health. A women in the workplace study found that 56 percent of women said they sometimes or always feel lonely or isolated, compared to 44 percent of men. Luckily, several studies have shown that effective wellness programs can decrease depression and improve mental health.

Another concern for women over 40 is having limited access to reliable information while navigating perimenopause and menopause. This season of change can feel very overwhelming, isolating, and stressful, but many wellness programs offer services and resources to assist women during this time.

Make Lasting Changes

Those who participate in company wellness programs tend to have better success at implementing healthy habits compared to those who don’t participate. Studies have shown that corporate wellness programs help participants lose weight by encouraging or incentivizing them to increase physical activity through activities such as walking. Participants have also been shown to eat more fruits and vegetables: in one case study, approximately half of the participants had better eating habits and undertook more physical activity after completing the program.

Better eating habits and increased physical activity will typically improve lipid profiles and decrease blood pressure, which will in turn reduce the risk of heart disease and other illnesses. Adhering to healthy habits alone can be very daunting, which is why a lot of individuals fail. However, individuals participating in wellness programs have a better chance of success.

Be Calm and Collected – while Collecting Bonuses

Effective wellness programs can reduce depression, stress, and burnout, which can be especially important for women in the workplace. In a recent Gallup study, women were 47 percent more likely to be stressed than their male counterparts. Other studies have shown that working mothers who participate in a wellness program generally have less stress. In addition, by reducing the risk of adverse health conditions, healthcare costs are lowered – a benefit for both the employee and for the workplace at large.

Plus, it’s common for participants to save money – or even earn money – by participating in their company’s wellness program. Incentives that are typically offered are cash, gift cards, health insurance premium discounts, gym memberships, and paid time off. Not only can women improve their health through these programs, but they can also earn financial incentives just by participating.

 Women over 40 who participate in a corporate wellness program will often not only maintain a healthy weight but also improve their mental health, decrease burnout, and manage their stress better than non-participants. For those who are successful, the biggest benefit is that they have achieved a healthier lifestyle by making small, incremental changes within a supportive environment. Companies provide wellness programs because they care about their employees’ health and well-being – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by participating.