Creating a culture of wellness in the workplace has become very common and has certainly expanded over the past decade, as the business of being healthy in general is booming to say the least. As a local and global community, we are not only concerned with our own health, but that of our children, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, employees and so on. Workplace wellness is a major focus for both employers and employees who understand that in order to perform at the highest level you must pay attention to leading a healthy lifestyle—because healthier employees are happier employees AND they are more productive. Additionally, employers are not only considering recommendations to assist with helping its unhealthy population become healthy but also to keep its healthy population from declining by utilizing preventative health practices.
While the goal of workplace wellness programs is generally to improve employee health, many US employers are also utilizing them as a tool to alleviate the impact of enormous increases in health insurance premiums that are continuing to rise. The two major factors in this increase seem to be obesity-related illnesses brought on by lack of adequate physical activity or poor nutrition and the increase in chronic health conditions due to a largely aging workforce of baby boomers. Whether young or old, human bodies were not meant to be sentient at a desk for 8-10 hours a day so the fact that more jobs require this type of work necessitates some type of program or activity to offset the consequences.
Work space ergonomics are a huge factor with respect to comprehensive wellness for those whose job requires less activity or working at a desk for most of the day. Adam Brockmeier of Therapydia Omaha explains, “There is a lot of desk work being done today, and as a result I have a lot of clients that are experiencing shoulder, back and neck pain that is not specifically injury-related. These effects can be caused by a myriad of different factors but the main problem is improper workplace ergonomics that promote poor posture and incorrect positioning of the body. The size, height and type of chair can affect your posture, which in turn affects your spine, shoulders, neck, back, knees…basically the dynamics of your entire body. I have even seen rotator cuff tears that have been caused over time due to a ‘wear and tear’ mechanism—your bodies’ response as it tries to stabilize itself properly. Your chair should be at a correct height with your feet resting so that your knees are bent at 90 degrees and you should be at eye level with your computer as opposed to having to look up, down, or to either side for an extended period of time. A good chair really is the best investment you can make if you must be sitting the entire day, but a lumbar pillow is also relatively inexpensive and helps create the normal curvature of the spine. There are also tools that serve as reminders to correct your posture throughout the day, such as iPosture, an inclinometer that you place on your chest as a self-correction device. Simple modifications really make a huge difference. For example, if someone is suffering with carpal tunnel they can correct the problem by decreasing the pressure placed on the nerves as they come through the wrists with a support device that creates a more neutral position. Or if someone is experiencing neck pain from looking to the left corner of their desk at their computer, a simple shift to have the monitor directly in front of them will work wonders. I offer workplace evaluations where I visit the site and conduct an evaluation of the entire work environment. The desk itself is the first thing I evaluate at a worksite, and I provide specific recommendations as to how you can correct any issues such as the ones I have explained with chairs, monitors and keyboards among other aspects that may be affecting your health and wellbeing. Posture is generally second nature, but simple corrections go a long way towards better health and wellness.”
Brockmeier adds, “In addition to offering workplace evaluations, I also highly recommend making time during each day for group classes or individual fitness activities. I teach Tai Chi, which is really great for keeping all of your joints moving and decreasing tension as it centers on a variety of relaxing motions. These classes help you to relax and center your Chi, which is the Chinese name for life energy or energy force. A particularly nice thing about them is that all you need to participate is flat shoes—you won’t get sweaty, it doesn’t take a lot of effort, and you don’t even have to change your wardrobe. Many of my clients have offered feedback that Tai Chi is refreshing and they like the fact that you don’t have to be moving around wildly or on the floor doing crazy stuff. That being said, Tai Chi is still creating aerobic energy that increases blood flow and really breaks up the day and keeps your body moving. I can teach employees in approximately ten sessions how to relax better based upon their needs and requirements, either on-site or at my facility.”
Anne Peterson of Cornerstone Fitness says, “There are so many benefits that both employees and businesses can gain from incorporating fitness and regular exercise into a company’s wellness program. To keep it brief here are five benefits that come with regular exercise. The first is an increase in energy. The more you move the more energized you will feel and the more endurance you will build. The second benefit is improved focus. Regular exercise will increase the blood flow and oxygen levels in your brain allowing you the ability to focus more. The third benefit is that it will enhance your mood. Exercise releases endorphins, which has also shown to increase memory. Exercise also releases serotonin, which improves mood and alleviates symptoms of depression, according to the Mayo Clinic. The fourth benefit of regular exercise is that it will help improve your memory. The fifth benefit, which is usually the most appealing for employers, is that regular exercise has been proven to increase productivity.”
For employers who are thinking about implementing a Workplace Wellness program, Peterson advises, “First take a look at the work environment and ask yourself what your employees would benefit from the most. For example a sedentary job would benefit greatly from exercise and movement, while a predominantly labor intensive job may not need the movement but could greatly benefit from proper lifting techniques, nutrition and/or mental wellness. The trick is to find out what your employees need and want while creating fun and unique ways to deliver the program. Second, keep it simple and consistent all while making it long term. Health and wellness doesn’t have to be expensive or ridiculously intense to be effective. Think of health and wellness as a journey and lifestyle change or another way of putting it, creating simple consistent habits to last a lifetime. Employees will appreciate the long term effects and realize the company truly cares about their wellness.”
She adds, “The major focus needs to be the employees and how they can benefit from a wellness program that’s designed for them. Every business/company is different and finding what works best for the employees and their environment is key. In most cases the major focus is on fitness and exercise, however there is much more to wellness than just exercising. Depending on the business/company other key areas of focus should be nutrition, stress management and even mental wellness. Another factor in creating an effective wellness program is communication with employees regarding the company wellness program. Whether it’s via email, communication boards or during a meeting; employees must know that they have the benefit of joining their company’s wellness program and understand how the program works. Too many times there will be wellness programs in place but employees just don’t know about it or how it works. Creating a wellness program committee would be a great place to start. Mainly focus on keeping it fun, creative, informational, educational, and easy to implement. The options are endless, but finding what works best for the employees within the business is the key to a successful workplace wellness program.”
When people think about their teeth they often do not realize that their dental health contributes to their overall health. Regular dental visits will do more than keep your smile attractive – they may tell dentists a lot about your overall health, including whether or not you may be developing a disease like diabetes. Dr. Daniel Beninato of Premier Dental says, “Research shows that the health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. For example, when your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good too. On the other hand, if you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems. Research also shows that good oral health may actually prevent certain diseases from occurring.”
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there is a relationship between gum (periodontal) disease and health complications such as a stroke and heart disease. Women with gum disease also show higher incidences of pre-term, low birth-weight babies. Other research shows that more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases (diseases involving many organs or the whole body) have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and excessive gum problems. Such diseases include: Diabetes, Leukemia, Oral Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Heart disease, and Kidney disease. Since most people have regular oral examinations, their dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem in its early stages. If you don’t take care of your teeth and gums, your poor oral hygiene may actually lead to other health problems, including:
- Oral and facial pain. According to the Office of the Surgeon General, this pain may be largely due to infection of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. Gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, and advanced gum disease affect more than 75 percent of the U.S. population to some degree.
- Problems with the heart and other major organs. Infections in the mouth may affect major organs. For example, the heart and heart valves may become inflamed by bacterial endocarditis, a condition that affects people with heart disease or anyone with damaged heart tissue.
- Digestion problems. Digestion begins with physical and chemical processes in the mouth, and problems here may lead to intestinal failure, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders.
In addition to affecting the overall health of your body, your smile may either positively or negatively affect your self-confidence, thereby affecting your mental and emotional health. Self-confidence may also affect productivity and effectiveness in the workplace. So by making a positive impact on your employees’ self-confidence you will directly impact their productivity and effectiveness in the workplace. Premier Dental is a comprehensive dental office for the entire family.
Premier Dental offers a Dental Assistance Savings Plan, a discount dental program for individuals, families, and businesses. This plan is designed to provide access to affordable quality dental care for everyone. The program includes two comprehensive exams per year which include an initial exam, periapical and bitewings (X-rays), a problem-focused visit, adult and/or child cleaning and fluoride treatments. Additional dental procedures are also included with this program, such as discounts on additional cleanings, laser teeth whitening, whitening trays, crowns, veneers, implants, dentures/partials, Invisalign®, and more! Finally, the program offers members no yearly maximums, no deductibles, no claim forms, no pre-authorizations, no pre-existing condition limitations, no waiting period, and free consultations. This is a great option for a single person, families, and businesses that want access to quality dental care. Please contact Premier Dental at (402) 718-8741 for more information.
Mental illness, including stress and job dissatisfaction, costs businesses a large amount of money yearly. More than one-third of American workers experience chronic work stress, and almost two-thirds (65 percent) cite work as a significant source of stress. Both coaching and counseling can help employees deal with mental health issues including stress that interferes with their job. Amanda Hebner of Focus C3 (Counseling, Coaching and Consulting) explains, “Each year 217 million work days are completely or partially lost due to mental disorders. Businesses that encourage and invest in coaching and counseling for their employees can increase productivity, job satisfaction and help employees decrease stress levels. At Focus C3, we have a number of different programs available to help with workplace wellness including smoking cessation programs, on-site and off, and an Employee Development Program that provides all of our services to employees and families for a low copay. We also offer coaching programs that develop leaders within the company. One of the best programs offered that can help a company get started with wellness is our Employee Environment Survey, which gives employers information about different areas that affect mental health, which is directly connected to the productivity and job satisfaction of their employees and helps employees identify areas that can help them improve performance, job satisfaction and overall health.” She adds, “There is a lot of discussion about implementing wellness programs in companies that address the physical part of wellness, but employers should not forget the mental health of their employees. With over 8 million people suffering from untreated mental illnesses, companies that not only support employees to address mental health issues, but encourage employees to actively take control of their mental health, can see as great a return on their investment, if they make it an important part of their wellness program.” Focus C3 has many options for both individuals of all ages, as well as companies big and small. Contact Amanda at (402) 933-4411 or email her at Amanda@FocusC3.com to discuss which options are best suited to your needs and goals.
Safety is another factor of overall wellness, and Lion’s Gate Security Solutions trains companies on the three essential elements in creating a safe and secure work environment: the basic compliance system, the involvement of workers in safety/security awareness and responsibility, and eliminating unsafe/unsecure practices. Employee wellness is the process of promoting a healthy, responsible life style for employees and their families through wellness efforts promoted and supported in the workplace. This leads to enhanced self-esteem, reduced stress, improved morale, increased job satisfaction, increased skills for health protection, and therefore improved health and an improved sense of well-being.
Calvin Jones of Lion’s Gate Security Solutions states, “We stress the first goal of any Workplace Safety Program is to raise awareness of behaviors in areas such as lifting, bending and other situations which can create hazardous situations. But what truly makes an innovative workplace safety incentive plan effective is the way management teams buy into the changes in behavior that actually make the workplace safer. Workplace Safety Programs take a total quality management approach, looking at every aspect of the workplace to improve safety. Programs include methods to work directly with employees to enlist their help, demonstrating the benefits of worker health and safety not only to the company, but to their families as well. We’ve found that creating a safer workplace not only reduces workers comp claims, but it can boost morale and job satisfaction, which in turn improves your relations with employees and their families.”
Lion’s Gate Security Solutions recommends utilizing the following Workplace Safety Checklist:
General Safety:
1. Are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posters displayed in prominent locations?
2. Are safety signs/warnings posted where appropriate?
3. Are emergency telephone numbers posted where they can be found readily?
4. Is a first aid kit available and adequately stocked?
5. Is a summary of Occupational Illnesses posted?
6. Are emergency evacuation traffic routes identified and posted?
Management Component
1. Is there a written safety policy statement?
2. Is the policy statement signed by management?
3. Are copies of the policy provided to new employees?
4. Are individual(s) responsible for development, implementation, and enforcement of the accident prevention plan?
5. Are employee/supervisor responsibilities and authority assigned?
6. Is a safety team established to monitor your safety and health program?
7. Is there an established procedure for handling employee safety and health complaints?
Record Keeping Component
1. Are OSHA 300/301 being maintained as required?
2. Are procedures in place to maintain records and logs?
a. Safety inspections
b. Safety meeting minutes
c. Accident investigations
d. Emergency response drills
3. Are employee medical records up-to-date and in accordance with OSHA standards?
4. Are records of employee exposure to hazardous substances or harmful physical agents maintained?
5. Are employee training records maintained and available for review?
6. Are records being maintained for the time period required by law?
7. Are operating permits and records current?
8. Is a responsible person designated by job title for record keeping?
Analysis Component
1. Has a job safety analysis been conducted?
2. Has a trend analysis been conducted?
3. Is there an established time frame for analysis (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually)?
4. Are analysis records maintained and current?
5. Is the safety program documentation reviewed for completeness?
6. Are identified discrepancies corrected?
7. Does the insurance loss run information match your records?
8. Is the safety program current for all employer operations and employee activities?
9. Has the accident prevention program documentation been reviewed for completeness?
10. Have hazard assessments been conducted, are they current, and are controls established?
11. Is a responsible person designated for analysis?
Wellness initiatives in the workplace are designed to support healthy behavior while at work as well as encouraging the same outside of the workplace, and provide valuable education to employees that enables them to make better or more informed decisions regarding their health in order to improve health outcomes overall. Workplace wellness often includes a variety of activities such as health fairs, health education, medical screenings, health coaching, weight management programs, wellness newsletters, on-site fitness programs and/or facilities. There are many ways to promote wellness in your own workplace and they do not all require a major upheaval of business as usual, even though they do require an extended level of commitment to see positive results. Furthermore, there are many local resources that would be happy to assist you with making the necessary changes, as small or large as they may be, so that everyone in your workplace can enjoy the benefits of being healthy.