Corporate Health and Wellness

 Gone are the days where an instructor just arrives in spandex and makes everyone jump around for 45min and then leaves in a hurry. Today what’s on offer is a variety of services that are measured and targeted to get the most out of your workforce and give the company a boost it never knew existed. When it comes to the corporate environment balance is key, giving your company enough so that you can advance through the ranks, and from a company perspective giving your employees enough so they can be productive and feel valued.  The end goal is a win-win situation for both the employer and employee.  This is one vital service companies can offer where both the employees and the company benefit and that’s corporate health and wellness.

The most popular corporate wellness services are training classes, canteen and diet consulting and educational workshops. We have made our focus points these three factors, which can be implemented immediately and can be monitored and maintained regularly.  These initiatives are ideal for companies who want to reduce healthcare expenses they are compensating for employees, and also for forward thinking companies wanting to make the work space a more inviting and fulfilling environment for their employees as well.

What can corporate Wellness do for me?

The benefits are many and are experienced on both side of the equation, it has been proven that employee retention is greater and medical aid claims are less. A healthier workforce leads to greater productivity and reduced lifestyle illness factors such as hypertension and obesity. The company obviously benefits from greater work output, less medical claims and expenses and greater staff retention.  Every company wants to be known in its industry as the one who looks after its staff, making the jobs at the company more desirable and appealing and thus getting stronger candidates to apply for jobs. This creates a cycle of quality employees, who are happy and driven with a passion and loyalty that can propel a company forward.

How can we implement corporate wellness?

Any company can implement a corporate wellness scheme that is tailored to their specific needs. An on-site evaluation determines the best implementation strategy and from there the program can begin. Employees need to be educated so that their habits can be changed accordingly and for the best, the work environment needs to be adjusted and an active participation program including exercise needs to be launched.

A breakdown of what options there are most popular:

Exercise is the most common of all corporate wellness programs and thus has various different implementation options. We can have group classes before during or after work, with different classes offered according to the demographic of staff at the company. Currently our most popular options are a gym class for managers and senior staff before work, a ladies yoga or Pilates class during lunch and a mixed group class for after work consisting of high intensity training. These do not have to be implemented in a particular or specific way, we can put together any package that suits any organization.

Canteen and nutritional consulting, this option goes to the very core of the problem for most organizations. A staff canteen is typically a place of limited options, with many options being processed foods and of poor nutritional value. Our canteen consulting evaluates a typical working week and makes suggested changes that can fit into the current system. We substitute foods that are offered with healthier whole food alternatives that have greater nutritional value and keep staff members feeling fuller for longer. We do not subscribe to severe calorie restriction and choose to combine foods that provide a balanced and robust meal.

Educational workshops are a part of the wellness scheme that allows staff members to take control of their decisions making it easier to implement life changes. A presentation debunking myths around exercise, training and food as well as an informative brochure gives the workforce the tools they need to succeed and take control of their lives.

What is the success rate of Corporate Wellness Programs?

Wellness programs are by far the greatest return on investment a company can make in its work force.

“Employee well-being is key. At Virgin we believe that if you look after your staff first the rest will follow, a happy workforce is a healthier workforce”  -Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group

Some statistics claim that for every 1$ invested in corporate wellness in the USA there is a 4$ saving on future medical costs. A comprehensive wellness program positions a company to increase revenue and decrease inefficiencies. The true test of a corporate wellness program is the cost decreases, efficiency increases and employee retention.

How can you implement Corporate Wellness for your organization?

Contact your nearest service provider and have them come to your office to do an on-site assessment and follow this up with a presentation. This will give you an idea of how the program will be implemented, how the service provider conducts their business and also what the program will cost.

In a nutshell, the true test will be whether or not the company will be willing to make its best investment choice that will mature and accrue over time?

by Theo Pretorius