The importance of workplace health

Most of us spend one-third of our adult lives at work. That’s a significant investment of time.

Just as a workplace can affect the physical, mental and social well-being of staff, it also provides an opportunity to optimize employee health.

Workplace health is one of organizations’ most important ways to invest in their people.

While employers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their employees while they are at work, workplace health is about so much more than safety.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (2020-08-31) makes a connection between the health and well-being of people and their work environments. “When people feel valued, respected and satisfied in their jobs and work in safe, healthy environments, they are more likely to be more productive and committed to their work. Everyone can benefit from a healthy workplace.”

For your employees, the benefits of optimal health and well-being include:

– Enhanced self-esteem
– Reduced stress
– Improved morale
– Increased job satisfaction
– Improved sense of well-being.

As an employer, creating a healthy workplace and focusing on employee well-being isn’t just the right thing to do; it makes good business sense.

Strong evidence shows that good employee health and well-being boost organizational health and business performance.

A Comcare research report showed that workplace health and wellbeing programs could produce a positive return on investment (greater than 5:1) and deliver the following outcomes:

– 25% decrease in sick leave absenteeism
– 40% decrease in workers compensation costs
– 24% decrease in disability management costs.

This report suggests that organizations that invest in worker health are among the most successful over time because healthy and safe workplaces:

– Are resilient in the face of change and adversity
– Contribute to prosperity and a sustainable economy
– Will create new opportunities.

Good workplace health brings the following benefits:

– Improved productivity
– Improved morale
– Improved employee retention/reduced turnover
– Improved ability to attract the best employees
– Improved participation and ‘presenteeism’
– Improved employee health behaviours
– Creating a positive and caring reputation/image
– Preventing chronic disease
– Reducing disability and early retirement.

Ensuring the health and wellbeing of your employees isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes good business sense.