Why Invest in Employee Wellness for Your Business

Employee wellness is important to organisational success, as long as business follows a strategic and integral approach to wellness, according to research performed by PwC in South Africa.

The study found that local employers recognise the benefits of investing in the wellness of their employees, and feel that employees appreciate these benefits that positively impact their health and well-being.

“In our experience globally, CEOs and other C-suite executives are becoming more aware of the impact of wellness and its benefits on the business as a whole, allowing wellness to become recognised as an increasingly strategic issue,” says Barry Vorster, PwC Leader of People & Change.

Here are some noteworthy benefits of implementing an employee wellness program from an organisational point of view.

Create Long-term Value for the Organisation

The impact of wellness programmes on the organisation’s bottom line depends on the company objectives, its strategic approach to wellness, and the employer’s efforts to engage with the staff and promote wellbeing in the workplace.

According to Vorster, employees who enjoy higher levels of well-being are likely to be more engaged, as are those who believe that their employer cares about their well-being.

The extended potential benefits of investing in wellness go beyond employee engagement and productivity at work. Wellness initiatives can lead to attract and retain the best talent, build the company reputation and brand, and create positive long-term value.

Reduce Costs with Healthcare Interventions   

Employers who analyse and invest in the wellbeing needs of their employees through wellness initiatives contribute to the decrease of direct costs of providing healthcare, as well as indirect costs that result from reduced productivity and absenteeism.

A wellness development inside an organisation has the potential to identify and prioritise healthcare issues and interventions, as well as develop appropriate measurement and monitoring of outcomes, and regular review of these interventions.

Drive Management Change

A critical component for the success of an employee wellness programme is driving behavioural change – not only among staff but management as well.

Wellness initiatives can successfully drive change management and communication, and empower and motivate managers to support employees in their participation in such programmes.

Changes in behavioural management are beneficial for the entire organisation, and lead to better overall communication within teams and improved stress management.

Ultimately, a well-defined strategy for investing in wellness, including clearly-defined objectives, should be consistent with the overall strategy and values of the organisation.

It can, therefore, impact on a strategic level and produce the necessary changes for a more integrated approach to better employee practices in the workplace.

Professional Sourcing is a top-tier South African-based recruitment agency operating internationally, IPM accredited, LEVEL 2 BEE RATED and 51% Black Owned.