CORPORATE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Organisations which offer corporate fitness programs experience big returns for taking an active role in the health and wellbeing of their employees. But what are the benefits and why should your business get involved?
In recent years, organisations across the country have been reaping the benefits of good health and wellbeing, not just for the organisation but for the employees as well. When thinking of corporate health, we often think of the prevention of occupational accidents and illnesses. In fact, corporate health and well-being can prevent both occupational and non-occupations illnesses while employees have fun and build social networks.
Unhealthy employees in the workplace can have a severe negative impact on the efficiency of an organisation. A recent Australian study showed that compared to their healthy co-workers, unhealthy workers take up to 9 times more sick leave and are 3 times less productive [1].
So how do organisations get the most out of their employees?
The answer lies in corporate fitness programs designed to improve the overall health of employees and in turn, your business.
Corporate fitness programs are not only focused on physical health; rather they take a holistic approach by recognising the connection that physical health has on an individual’s emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual health and how improvements in these areas result in flow-on effects through an entire organisation [2].
Increased overall health has clear benefits for the employee as an individual, and for the employer. The World Health Organisation highlights the following benefits of corporate fitness programs for both the employee and the organisation.
To the organisation
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To the employee
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Well-managed health and safety programme
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Safe and healthy work environment
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Positive and caring image
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Enhanced self-esteem
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Improved staff morale
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Reduced stress
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Reduced staff turnover
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Improved morale
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Reduced absenteeism
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Increased job satisfaction
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Increased productivity
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Increased skills for health protection
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Reduced health care/insurance costs
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Improved health
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Reduced risk of fines and litigation
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Improved sense of well-being
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To find out more on realising the benefits of a healthy workforce, contact SportUNE today on (02) 6773 3856 or email sportune@une.edu.au
[1] Medibank Private. The Health of Australia’s Workforce. November 2005.
[2] Crowther et al, Measuring the benefits of corporate health and wellbeing, Interdisciplinary Team Research, Monash University, 2004.