In the current world today, we cannot get through the day without using or seeing the word “wellness”. It is used in a wide-spectrum of different industries such as retail, travel, leisure, fitness, healthcare, medical and many other industries with varied interpretations.
So, what exactly is wellness? Wellness is defined as the state of being in good health. Wellness is a choice to move toward optimal health and create a higher potential through a qualitative way of life. Wellness helps life’s achievements to become more attainable.
All of us are in a constant state of wellness, regardless of our current state of health. We can be living well in a challenged body, or we can be very unwell even though we may appear healthy. Many people think of wellness and health as synonymous—that is, if one is healthy, one is therefore well. This is not the case. An individual may appear physically healthy, may work out every day, eat fruits and vegetables but be emotionally and spiritually drained, bored with life, or unhappy in relationships. That is not wellness.
Wellness is dynamic. It is always in process. As our body changes each day through the process of living, so does our state of wellness. Just as there are various levels of illness and disease, so too there are various levels of wellness and well-being. Wellness is the integration, balance and harmony of one’s mind, body, spirit and emotions.
So, what do employers actually want more than anything? Healthy, engaged, productive, energized and thriving employees who provide great customer service. The reality is most employers have the opposite of this workplace culture.
For employees to really thrive and prosper, they need to have affirmation and be happy with what, where and why they are doing it. Without that, good physical health, engagement and productivity are almost impossible. Employee contentment brings success on multiple levels for the employee and the employer.
Companies that successfully address both physical and mental health of their employees have a huge competitive advantage and not just from reduced healthcare and insurance costs, but in cultivating more enthusiastic, productive and engaged employees. In return, this boosts competitive and financial success through better products and services. Companies need to realize that they are truly in the healthcare coverage business and this does not begin to add up the costs of disengagement, absenteeism and turnover.
Workplace wellness initiatives have been traditionally deployed by HR, approved by senior management with motives to reduce medical and insurance costs and create a healthier workforce. HR may retain a wellness vendor to help deliver programs that focus on the employee’s health and wellness. All good things, but not nearly enough. Employers also may offer incentives and penalties, but neither result in long-term lifestyle change or improved moral.
After years of lack of employee engagement and enthusiasm, C-Suite decision makers may ask about the return on the program’s investment. Unfortunately, few companies even try to measure returns, and if they did, the numbers would be disappointing. Something needs to be done with astronomical healthcare costs. And the right wellness program CAN help!
The reasons why today’s workplace wellness programs have not worked are because of the lack of strategic focus with a comprehensive approach; focus almost exclusively on the physical health side ignoring mental and emotional health; lack of leadership; absence of a wellbeing culture; and a one size fits all approach that appeals primarily to the already healthy and fit. A watered-down wellness approach is NOT the solution!
The stark truth is that the wellness industry has accomplished remarkably little in the areas of return on investment (ROI) and long-term lifestyle behavior change. The key to a positive ROI is to focus on chronic illness with a supportive culture of wellbeing and caring to maximize employee and family enthusiastic participation. Gyms alone will not do the trick. Programs for smoking cessation, weight loss, exercise and nutrition, while helpful on almost any level, do not truly move the needle on coverage costs or employee engagement, they are one size fits all and typically randomly implemented and managed. This is just checking off boxes and will not give companies the real solution to decreasing medical and insurance costs.
In order to have a successful ROI, companies must have a multi-dimensional wellness platform that is managed by degreed and trained staff in the wellness space. Some examples are the following; you can eliminate depression without making someone happy. You can cure anxiety without teaching someone optimism. You can return to work without improving their job performance. If all that is strived is to attain the average, opportunities to exceed will be missed. Having the resource of educated and professionally trained team leaders who are truly wellness providers and not watered-down wellness providers is the pivotal game-changer with providing a successful wellness program.
What sets Rolling Strong apart from all other wellness providers? Rolling Strong is an innovative technology-based leader in the evolving wellness marketplace specializing in the transportation industry. Our service is backed by a robust technology-based platform that includes a full-service hippa complaint health portal and mobile app. Each one of our accounts is personally managed by a degreed CDL Wellness Coach that helps to increase engagement, success and most importantly results. We not only understand the barriers and limitations that professional drivers struggle with their health, but also the corporate population and spouses too. Results not only help to improve employee health and retention but also drive down high insurance rates and costs. Rolling Strong has many wellness verticals including; getting paid to exercise; FICA employee and employer breaks and incentives; integration of all medical and health records; well-managed competitions to keep employee engagement high and many more customizable options to fit your company’s budget and needs.