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Should employers be involved with employee wellness?
There are a number of ways to approach this question and as such I do so with caution. Ethically, this is a gray area. Legally, this is a slightly less gray but still shady area. But, economically- this is a clear area.
In general, when employers invest in a wellness program, they see a reduction in spending on employee illness. See the chart below:
I want to point out that the benefit of implementing a workplace wellness program is not always going to be dollars saved. One non- monetary advantage is reduced employee absenteeism. Another perk is happier employees which leads to higher retention rates. Although the lack of immediate ROI may seem like a poor use of resources- allocating effort and funds to workplace wellness will positively effect the bottom line.
I am well aware of the potential risks employers take when choosing to get involved with their employees’ wellness. From anti-discrimination laws to data protection and privacy, there is a lot of regulation that needs to be followed. However, the fact that something is complex should never be a reason for not doing it. In my opinion, it is all the more reason to learn about the…
