Workplace Wellness and Productivity Part 1

Workplace Wellness and Productivity-Part 1

Does employee wellness really improve productivity?

Want to improve the productivity of the teams in your company? Do you want to increase sales? Do you want to have the quality and caliber of whom you hired be reflected in their work? Be the management of the change and influence of increased success.

FACT: $63.2 Billion estimated annual cost to U.S. businesses of lost productivity between 2015-2016 attributed to sleep deprivation alone. Now being a veteran, that works for training for combat, but it is not very effective for corporate combat. That means more Americans drink coffee and energy drinks to try and supplement the energy and focus that they could naturally be generating from being active, healthy, more fit.

FACT: 77% of productivity loss id attributed to health-related factors. Sick days, are an easy measurable element of health care causes and loss in wages, etc., but, what about employees who come to work under the weather and “Suck It Up”? We all know that one or two, or 10 that have done it; and take pride in not having any sick days…….so they were paid to be at work, but did really nothing.

This is not a blast or attack on them, it’s a great model for what is happening more to mask the wellness impact issue in our country. The solution is simple, wellness program with incentives that reward for coming to work and meeting certain standards and criteria as a part of the wellness initiative. (For this we highly recommend researching the local, state, and federal labor laws on changing standards operating procedures and accountability of work performance regulations and guidelines. Or consulting with a consulting, research, or wellness firm on gathering that information.)

FACT:  There is a 28% reduction in productivity among employees who smoke verses non-smokers.  The amazing thing about this, most companies are implementing no smoking while at work policies, and even though this is a step, it does not fix the issue of the unhealthy lifestyle habit affects the employee thus effecting their productivity; even when they smoke on their own time away from work.

The solution, offer more beneficial alternatives and incentives to employees for not smoking at all, and showing improved performance/productivity from not smoking. This has to be creative, and within the business model of your company. Make it challenging, but achievable, rewarding, and clearly seen of those who have tried, won, and are continuing to attempt to win.

Productivity is effected in many ways, and not just by those who are not well or fit, and living very unproductive recreational lifestyles. The employee(s) who must take on the additional work load, pick up the slack with making quota or dealing with client/guest flow. There are various impacts based upon the industry, but no matter the industry it is still a solution that helps more than just health care cost, or employee retention.

Workplace wellness has changed and become a valuable tool in increasing a company’s production. In doing so there is no longer just a measurable variable of ROI, now the Value of Investment can be just as much be measured. And soon, very soon, the rate of productivity gained and lost will be as well.

What are your productivity challenges?