When it comes to workplace wellness programs, the question many employers face is no longer whether they should invest in such initiatives, but rather how to do it in a way that is strategic and cost-effective and aligned with their corporate culture. But no single wellness program equally matches the needs of all organizations. The following three Canadian companies—C.S.T. Consultants Inc., Intria and Direct Energy—have each approached wellness in unique ways based on their employee demographics, available resources and strategic goals. While their wellness programs differ, they all endorse one message: just do it.
Jennifer Allen, vice-president, HR programs and corporate communications, with Economical Insurance Group, says you don’t need to have a large budget and many resources to put a wellness program in place.
U.S. employers are increasingly using incentives to encourage participation in health screening programs, say new survey findings from Aon Hewitt.
Most organizations will see mental disorders as one of the top two categories on their drug utilization reports, and those conditions tend to be trending upwards, said Leanne MacFarlane, senior director, business development, with MHCSI, as part of a mental health panel at the conference.
When employee engagement in health succeeds—whether through social media or integrated programs—the outcomes are invaluable for both employers and employees.
With the aging population and increase in chronic disease—coupled with the rise in pharmaceutical costs and growing mental health concerns—it’s more crucial than ever to get employees engaged in their own health.
When Katherine Sheehan, assistant vice-president, HR, with Dalhousie University, started at the institution, she found there were a number of wellness initiatives across campus.
Canadian employers may intuitively understand the benefits of investing in prevention and health promotion programs for their employees, but they’re still struggling to demonstrate a clear, positive return on investment (ROI) for such programs.
When organizations focus on supporting their employees to be healthier, the health of the business improves, too. At Benefits Canada’s 2012 Healthy Outcomes Conference in Kelowna, B.C., 65 delegates from leading organizations dedicated to workplace wellness came together to share their challenges and successes.
“I’m going to irritate a lot of people today,” began Dee Edington, keynote speaker on health management as a serious business strategy, at the Benefits Canada 2012 Benefits & Pension Summit. Drawing on his experience as director of the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, Edington had a lot to say about what doesn’t […]