Challenges Associated with Wellness Programs
Before implementing any of these employee wellness programs, it’s important to recognize some of the challenges that may arise;
1. Compromised Employee Health Privacy
Employee wellness programs bring health privacy concerns to the forefront if employers adopt a heavy-handed approach to wellness programs.
Participation in these programs should be voluntary.
Additionally, if employees cannot participate in a corporate wellness program due to health reasons, employers shouldn’t expect their employees to disclose their specific conditions.
Forcing employees to disclose personal health information may cause them to adopt a negative attitude towards health initiatives in the future.
2. Lack of Engagement
Convincing employees to participate in wellness programs is another challenge employers may face.
According to a study by United Healthcare Consulting, 63% of employees are unwilling to devote more than one hour daily to improve their health.
To improve engagement, one employee benefit you could consider is to offer time during their work hours for self-care or physical activity. They’re more likely to participate if it doesn’t take away from their personal time.
3. Single-Dimensional Focus
A corporate wellness program shouldn’t focus on just one aspect of employee health, like physical health.
A well-rounded approach is the best one, incorporating activities that address employees’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
In addition to physical, emotional, and mental health, employees are also increasingly concerned about their financial health. This aspect can impact others; for example, if an employee is in economic turmoil, this can affect their mental health, leading to depression.
Since these factors are linked, it’s best to provide a holistic support program to your team.