by Elizabeth Bierbower, president, Employer Group Segment at Humana
Employers are doing a good job of incorporating wellness into their organizations, with more than two-thirds of U.S. employers currently offering wellness programs. I’m also seeing companies expanding their focus from employees’ physical health to a more holistic view of their overall well-being.
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What’s behind this trend is simple: If employees are sick, stressed, or dealing with a chronic condition, those issues affect how effective and efficient they are at their jobs. And because people spend so much of their time at work, how their workplace helps or hampers wellness can make a significant difference.
As companies realize they need to encourage well-being, they’re starting with workplace culture. That might mean creating a workplace with inviting outdoor spaces or incorporating wellness into office design with sit/stand desks and spaces for activities like meditation and naps.
Mindfulness training at work is also on the rise—22% of employers offer it now, and another 21% are considering offering it in 2017. Humana’s own offerings now include mindfulness training from eMindful, where employees can take live, online classes that focus on increasing awareness of unhealthy habits that might lead to poorer health and decreased productivity.
All these things can make workers feel that their well-being matters to their employer. And when employees feel that companies care about their health and wellness, it has a positive impact on both their stress levels and their engagement at work.
Why? Adopting wellness as a workplace philosophy leads to a company that feels more whole. The Wellness Affect, a study from Humana and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), found that workplaces that have established a wellness culture have increased employee commitment, with 67% of workers saying their participation in a wellness program has had an impact on their engagement in their employer’s mission and goals. Employees are also more likely to view their own wellness as being connected to professional success.
Employers are encouraging employees to nurture their health and well-being around the clock, rather than in isolation outside the office. It’s not unusual to find a workplace that supports walking meetings or lunchtime yoga, or a firm that offers on-site flu shots—activities that can improve the health and productivity of their workers.
After all, the health of a company’s workers directly affects the health of a company, so investing in their health and well-being makes good business sense.
| Beth Bierbower is president of the Employer Group Segment for Humana where she is responsible for driving the growth and profitability of Humana’s employer group products including medical, specialty, and wellness offerings. In addition, Bierbower is responsible for Humana’s government business which provides service to active members and retirees of the military through contracts with the Department of Defense and the Veteran’s Administration. |