CORPORATE/WORKPLACE WELLNESS By Corinne Holder

Did you know that the top three causes of premature death and disability for males and females are heart disease, cancer, and stroke?

You may not think you are at risk, but think again.

Modern declines in corporate productivity and profitability are directly attributed to a high stressed, high intensive work place.  In spite of computers and so-called “labour saving” technology; we spend the majority of our waking hours at work under more pressure and greater demands than ever before. 

Research has shown that 60-80% of doctor visits are for physical symptoms of emotional distress that can be significantly alleviated with workplace wellness programmes.

Today, employers in Trinidad & Tobago and the world over continue to face business challenges and concerns around increasing healthcare costs, employees’ on-the-job performance, the recruitment and retention of good workers and workplace morale.  These concerns are a wake up call and major motivator for employers to consider workplace health and wellness promotion activities.

The workplace is where most adults typically spend their waking hours and where it has a powerful impact on individuals’ health.  It is known that adults with multiple risk factors (e.g. hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, overweight, low physical activity) are more likely to be high cost employees in terms of health care, absenteeism, disability and overall productivity.  On the other hand - healthy employees and especially those with healthy families as well are likely to incur low medical costs and be more productive.

How can you maximize the effectiveness of your available resources and provide the level of service and expertise or reliability demanded in today’s competitive market?

Make a difference.  Build and sustain a culture that supports activities which help promote a healthy lifestyle.

Why invest in corporate health and wellness programmes?

It is said that “If the body is only as healthy as its individual cells, a company is only as fit as its employees".

Despite the recognition of the business consequences of poor health, few organisations in T & T regard health as a core business value, and as such, essential to business objectives.

For any business to be successful, it is essential that your employees are healthy and able to work at full capacity. No matter if your company has two or two hundred employees, a healthy working employee is a must.

Individuals with multiple health risks tend to be less productive than their peers with better health profiles. Fortunately, several important risk factors are controllable, often simply by behaviour change and modification of health habits.

Employee health and wellness promotion programmes are becoming more prevalent worldwide, and whatever the motivation, now is the opportune time for more employers in Trinidad & Tobago to invest in health and wellness promotion at the workplace.

What’s in it for you?

Investing in your employees’ health is by far the most long-term investment your organisation can make.

The Benefits:
Improved Productivity by:
Attracting top-of-the-line workers Reduced absenteeism Improved Morale
Increased physical and mental stamina Decreased Health Care Costs
Reduced employee turnover Less recruiting and retraining costs
Culture change Reduced organisational conflict Reduced Stress
Increased good-will toward management

If you can improve employees’ health and attitudes then you can positively impact organizational resourcefulness and performance.

It’s Never Too Late To Start

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Corinne Holder has over twenty years of Training and Development experience to the diverse field of Human and Organisational Development. During her tenure with a major international financial institution, her responsibilities included facilitating in-house workshops and programmes, designed to implement the Organisation’s cultural change initiatives.  As a consultant with ODYSSEY CONSULTinc Corinne has successfully designed and delivered powerful and change-making training interventions at all levels for organisations in the various Business sectors.