WORKPLACE “ WELLNESS ”: HEALTH , PRODUCTIVITY , AND PREVENTION OVER CONVENTION
LIFESTYLE
WORKPLACE “ WELLNESS ”: HEALTH , PRODUCTIVITY , AND PREVENTION OVER CONVENTION
By Sam Crochet Hall , Booth , Smith , P . C . scrochet @ hallboothsmith . com
Many of us work long hours , after which we often scramble to spend valuable time with our families and friends . Unfortunately , we are often quick to shed the primary element to a healthy lifestyle : physical activity . Of course , inactivity can increase mental / physical fatigue , which undermines both of our aforementioned goals . Then there is the obvious longterm risk to ignoring health and fitness : weight gain , aging , cardiac issues , stress , etc . Luckily , today , organizations and employees have a greater incentive than ever to encourage a balanced lifestyle , and can do so without killing the clock or breaking the bank . Through cost-effective and convenient “ wellness ” programs , we can easily increase health while saving ( making ) money .
Office Yoga
The reasons employers benefit from office “ wellness ” are bountiful . First , such programs can reduce health insurance premiums . Second , healthier / happier workers are more productive and miss less days . The ability to attract prospective millennial employees seeking “ smart companies ” is an added benefit . A 2010 study in the peer-reviewed Health Affairs Journal concluded medical costs and employee-absentee costs fall by $ 3.27 and $ 2.73 respectively per dollar spent on “ wellness ” programs . 1 The programs studied included the use of health education materials , individual health / fitness counseling , and on-site group activities , classes , or health seminars . However , this study and most other literature I have found on the topic concern companies with greater than 1,000 employees ‒ organizations with the spending power to adopt wide ranging initiatives to address longterm costs and productivity . Therefore , small to mid-sized law firms may have to play a different game to achieve the same results .
A proven recourse for the latter firms is office-yoga . Evidence shows after-work or lunchtime yoga classes are a low-cost “ wellness ” plan that fights stress , curbs fatigue , and boosts productivity . Throw in the fact it is as simple as closing the door to a conference room or pushing chairs to the side of an office-lobby ; employers incur little overhead aside from the cost of an instructor while employers / employees benefit from convenience in the work schedule .
Preventative Medicine is the Key
I reached out to an Atlanta-area professional yoga instructor , Carissa Wetzstein , who specializes in addressing “ wellness ” at a local physical therapy health and wellness facility . Regarding the immediate effects she has observed in her career with individuals in her practice , Wetzstein stated “ just an hour or two of yoga a week encourages ‘ destressing ’ and healthy decision-making . Also , it leads to a natural sense of community between participants - a benefit which should not be understated in the workplace .” Concerning the role Wetzstein believes “ wellness ” programs could play in long term health care plans , she said “ organizations and people are starting to realize preventative medicine is the key . ‘ Wellness ’ programs are becoming essential to saving money , improving the quality of care , and making people ’ s lives better .” The cost to employers ? Depending on the office , Wetzstein says her corporate ( office yoga ) classes run $ 75.00 - $ 100.00 per day . 2
Aetna CEO Credits Yoga
A great example of yoga ’ s calling in the workplace is found through Aetna Insurance CEO , Mark Bertolini , who has
1 “ Workplace Wellness Programs Can Generate Savings ,” http :// content . healthaffairs . org / content / 29 / 2 / 304 . full ( The study compared participant employees to non-participant employees in 22 companies . 90 % of the companies studied employed more than 1,000 employees ).
2 Carissa Wetzstein provides corporate yoga classes in the greater-Atlanta area . For more information on the benefits of workplace wellness , Wetzstein frequently answers questions via carissayoga @ outlook . com .
12 May 2016