Create a Healthy Work Culture

It's a nationally acknowledged truth: Healthcare is the No. 1 cost for organizations today. Research shows that 80 percent of healthcare costs are spent on diseases—such as heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer—that are almost entirely preventable with better nutrition and physical activity.

Corporate wellness was originally created as a solution to help reduce health care costs and help educate employees on how to become better consumers in their health. Corporate wellness, however, also plays an important role in a company's culture.

Corporate wellness may not only reduce healthcare costs, but it may also help improve productivity and employee morale. Creating a healthy culture could help attract and retain talented employees.

How can you make corporate wellness work out for you and your company?

1. Begin with an assessment.
Most corporate wellness programs begin with an assessment on the top healthcare expenditures of the company. In addition to the company's costs, an assessment should look at the top needs and interests of the employees. Wellness evaluations can be completed through health risk assessments, biometric screenings, employee surveys, focus groups or a combination of all.

2. Move into program interventions and education.
And you can literally move! Some companies dedicated to improving corporate wellness offer solutions that are relevant, easy and fun. Employees don't necessarily have to hit the gym every day—many companies offer onsite wellness services including personal coaching, well-being workshops, cooking demonstrations, stress management classes, on-site fitness classes and team wellness challenges.

3. Set your employees up for success.
Many employees want to be healthy, but they don't have the resources or knowledge for success. You can be an advocate and improve your business' physical environments and work culture by providing better vending machine options, hosting BYO Potluck days, offering spaces to stretch and exercise, instating policies that allow for wellness activities and more.

If corporate wellness is done properly, it may not only save your company money, but could enhance culture, improve productivity and strengthen employee morale—and probably their muscles, too.

 Written by Cassie Westrate, staff writer for Groups Today.