{"id":15631,"date":"2014-09-10T22:56:57","date_gmt":"2014-09-11T02:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2014\/09\/workplace-wellness-programs-growing.html"},"modified":"2014-09-10T22:56:57","modified_gmt":"2014-09-11T02:56:57","slug":"workplace-wellness-programs-growing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2014\/09\/workplace-wellness-programs-growing\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Wellness Programs Growing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"monique\n<\/div>\n
Monique Boulet operates Organique by Monique in Saratoga Springs\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

By Monique Boulet, RD, CDN, CPT<\/p>\n

Although it’s been decades since the start
\nof the first workplace wellness programs
\nin the country, their popularity has really
\nsparked a growing trend in enormous numbers
\nwithin all types of industries, product
\nor service based, small or large, within the
\nlast several years.<\/p>\n

Some employers have yet to jump on the
\nhealthy wave and want to know the hows and
\nwhys of why it’s desirable to conform with
\nthe healthy trend. While there are still those
\nwho are simply looking at the initial costs
\nand are unaware of the end results, there
\nare now studies providing the breakdown
\nof the benefits that a wellness program can
\nmake on the employer\/employee structure,
\nthe connections in and outside of the facility,
\nthe effect on the final product\/ service
\nprovided, and therefore the client supporting
\nthe business.<\/p>\n

In my experience, the most effective
\ncomponent of a successful wellness program
\nis to first find a competent licensed health
\nprofessional who has experience in pulling
\ntogether an individualized program that
\nmeets the needs of the group they will be
\nworking closely with.<\/p>\n

If you are working with a health professional,
\nand they have a standard program in
\nplace, I would be cautious. I have yet to use
\nthe same wellness program twice in almost
\ntwo decades of being a dietitian, fitness
\ntrainer and health coach. In other words,
\nthere should be flexibility in conforming a
\nprogram that works specifically within each
\ngroups dynamics.<\/p>\n

This can only really be effective with a
\nthorough information-gathering phase to
\ndetermine the perceptions of the group in
\nrelation to the importance of good health.<\/p>\n

It’s about taking a strategic approach to
\nfinding out what your employees want,
\nneed, and the time they are willing to invest
\nwithin a solid, supportive setting. Providing
\nan encouraging and supportive setting will
\neliminate fear of time restraints, limited
\nresources, or the inability to reach individual
\ngoals.<\/p>\n

A great way to get your feet wet without
\njumping in fully with a wellness program or
\nhealth professional that may not be a good
\nfit would be to hold a Health and Wellness
\nDay at your site, allowing employees to
\nobserve various wellness professionals, ask
\nquestions, have health screenings such as
\nblood pressure or cholesterol, and have a
\nhealth risk assessment done.<\/p>\n

Another option is to have a health professional
\nprovide a presentation on a topic
\ninteresting to the group during a “lunch and learn” event. This provides an opportunity
\nto experience the energy and execution of
\nthe presenter’s style, without locking into
\nthe cost of an extended program.<\/p>\n

I have been asked why the shift toward
\ncorporate and small business wellness programs?
\nThe benefits across the board that
\ncorporations are experiencing include improved
\nhealth and morale of the employee;
\nreduced absenteeism, sick days and medical
\nvisits; wellness that extends to employees’
\nfamilies; and cost savings to the employer
\nvia a reduction in insurance premiums.<\/p>\n

Medical costs fall about $3.27 per dollar
\nspent on wellness programs and absentee
\nday costs fall by about $2.73 per dollar spent,
\naccording to a recent Harvard University
\nstudy. Other studies reveal similar results.<\/p>\n

In addition, studies go beyond health care
\ndollar savings and show there is a significant
\nincrease in productivity and service of the
\nbusiness as a whole, which results in a happier
\ncustomer base.<\/p>\n

In the past decade, about 95 percent–or
\n$2 trillion–of the nation’s healthcare dollars
\nwere spent directly on medical services.
\nAnd even though an estimated 60-70 percent
\nof all diseases may be linked to preventable
\nhealth risks, only about 5 percent of those
\nfunds were being allocated to preventing
\ndisease and promoting health.<\/p>\n

Increasingly, companies are wanting to
\ntake a preventative, proactive approach,
\nknowing that the end result of a small initial
\ninvestment is worth the risk of all the
\nsetbacks of not having one, and in the end,
\nthe direct and indirect financial gains are
\nincomparable.<\/p>\n

Boulet is owner of Organique by Monique
\nin Saratoga Springs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo Courtesy Monique Boutlet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monique Boulet operates Organique by Monique in Saratoga Springs By Monique Boulet, RD, CDN, CPT Although it’s been decades since the start of the first workplace wellness programs in the country, their popularity has really sparked a growing trend…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[58,82],"class_list":["post-15631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-reports","tag-business-reports","tag-healthcare"],"yoast_head":"\r\nWorkplace Wellness Programs Growing - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2014\/09\/workplace-wellness-programs-growing\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Workplace Wellness Programs Growing - 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