Is Your Workplace Health Program Comprehensive?

Is your workplace health program meeting your employees’ needs? IBI recently released a report on Evaluating Workplace Health Programs: From Research to Practice discussing the measurement of the impact of workplace health programs. The study analyzed data from 2017 Workplace Health in America Survey conducted by the CDC to assess workplace health programs across the U.S. This comprehensive approach was captured in the survey.

In recent years, workplace health programs (WHPs) have seen an increase in utilization through benefits programs. There has been a shift to a comprehensive approach to better raise the overall health and wellbeing of the employee so that they can do their best work. A comprehensive approach includes strategies and interventions that work together to provide the best possible framework to minimize risks and maximize health outcomes for all employees. Comprehensive workplace health programs can potentially offer a powerful strategy to improve the lives of more than 155 million American workers, along with their dependents. (Source:  www.bls.gov) WHPs can be classified into five major areas or components in the comprehensive approach.

Health screenings are an important opportunity to identify signs of diseases and illnesses as early possible. Ideally, they are offered in the workplace, but should be adapted for those employees who work from home. Some employers offer incentives to encourage participation. Identifying illnesses and risk behaviors as early as possible presents an opportunity to direct the participant to key resources to help minimize adverse effects.