Healthcare is one of the most influential topics in science and a fast-growing area of the economy. One of the newest and most popular in this growth is health and wellness management. Specifically, corporate wellness programs have become popular due to the many benefits they provide to organizations.
Did you know that 84% of companies in the United States offer some type of wellness program? Health and wellness programs are initiatives by organizations that aim to help employees live happier and healthier lives. Workers now expect employers to view them as people by offering support and benefits at a personal level.
The expansiveness of the profession in the corporate and public health sectors has led to many degree programs offered online and in classroom settings. Health and wellness education programs cover a broad range of knowledge in preventive action, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of other people. The popularity of the programs has also made careers in health and wellness very rewarding.
In this article, we discuss how pursuing a degree in health and fitness can put you on a path to guiding others, as well as the benefits of a health and wellness program in the workplace.
Health and Wellness Degree Programs
People who have the vision to help communities and people to live in good health and well-being have many interesting career options. Health and wellness cover a broad range of industry knowledge aimed at taking preventive action and advocating for healthy living. You can study health and wellness degree programs that will prepare you for a fulfilling career. The programs enable you to impact the quality of life by overcoming the effects of illnesses, encouraging informed and healthy choices about fitness and diet, and shaping health policy decisions.
To prepare for studies in wellness and health, you need a well-balanced academic background in sciences and humanities. There is a good variety of degree options in the field offered by top universities and colleges. Students taking degrees in the field expect to acquire skills and knowledge related to holistic healthcare, wellness advocacy, public health insight, leadership, and management.
The most popular careers for someone with an academic certificate in the field are corporate wellness coordinator, public health educator, community health worker, health coach, and health services manager.
If you are ready to get started on the road to landing one of the impactful careers, start by completing at least one of the online health and wellness programs. A degree is a good foundation for a long career in health and wellness.
However, if you have to juggle work, family, school, and other commitments when taking your health and wellness degree, enlisting a college paper writing service can save you from panicking to meet deadlines. The companies hire experts in every field to handle all college paper writing needs, from 101 level to doctoral and business writing. The team of professional writers goes through a strict selection process to ensure you are guaranteed a high-quality paper. You can place an order from academic writing services to get a custom essay or research paper done and delivered online by your deadline.
Benefits of Health and Wellness Programs
Wellness programs are very popular in the corporate sector. Although they started as employee perks for large companies, you can find them today in medium and small-sized businesses. An organizational culture focused on employee health brings a range of benefits to other employees and the companies.
Examples of health and wellness programs in the workplace include healthy lunch and snacks, fitness activities, support and assistance programs, naps, and community service activities.
Now, let’s explore some benefits of corporate wellness programs.
Improve Productivity
Healthier workers tend to be more rested, motivated, and energized, and hence more productive in the workplace. When workers exercise regularly and eat well, they tend to be more diligent than those who don’t.
An effective health and wellness program also reduces absenteeism because employees are healthier and less stressed. Employees are also happier when they feel appreciated by the companies they work for. Thus, wellness programs usually cause workers to be more enthusiastic and industrious.
Reduce Healthcare Costs
Health and wellness programs encourage employees to adopt behaviors that improve their general health, creating a healthier workforce. The ability of the program to lower healthcare costs depends on how comprehensive it is in lowering health risks.
An occasional lunch, doing a biometric screening, or occasional lessons about nutrition will not be enough to lower healthcare costs. However, wellness programs that influence employees to change their behavior can save the company more money on healthcare costs compared to the actual costs of running the program.
Lower Stress
Stress among employees can be caused by personal and professional situations. Common stressors include sleeping problems, feeling overworked, financial worries, job security concerns, and worries about health.
Fortunately, health and wellness programs aim to alleviate stressors by providing physical and mental support. The coaching programs also include mental health wellness initiatives that play an integral part in managing stress and supporting workers to achieve work goals.
Increase Morale
Low employee morale is often indicated by low engagement, health issues, lack of physical activity, and stress. Companies with employees that have low morale frequently have high staff turnover rates, which is very costly.
A health and wellness program is a great way to boost morale by making employees feel that their welfare is valued. They are more likely to stay in the same company for a long time. High morale levels also lead to lower rates of absenteeism.
Enhance Relationships
Despite work relationships being essential to the well-being of the staff, in reality, many workers are very lonely. Full-time workers spend a lot of their time in the workplace, making work relationships critical to their productivity. The relationships can also influence overall happiness and stress levels.
Having health and wellness programs is the best way to support social connections because they encourage workers to form connections. For example, a group workout session or walk challenge emboldens coworkers to communicate and come together as a team. Volunteer days also promote team bonding.
Employee Retention and Recruitment
Organizations that are known for having regular and comprehensive wellness programs often lead the way for having the best employee recruitment and retention. The decision to stay is not only driven by money because most people also consider other factors such as support and benefits offered by the employer.
Free wellness programs show care for staff welfare, and happy employees tend to stick around. It is also a form of affiliate marketing where workers spread the word about the company’s respectful treatment of employees and the benefits of working for the organization. In the end, good corporate wellness programs attract top talent.
Who is the author?
Lauren Bradshaw started her writing career in 2003. Since then, she has tried her hand at website design, programming, and SEO. Currently, she is working for a professional essay writing service, Custom Writings. Her major interests lie in content marketing, developing communication skills, and blogging. She’s also passionate about AI, machine learning, and digital marketing.