When you have healthy people running your business, not only are they more productive and happier but they cost you less money. By integrating on-site wellness programs into your company, you can reduce how much healthcare it costs to keep them as an employee, you can get a return on your investment into quality wellness programs and it’s been shown that a majority of health care costs that go out are for preventable diseases. So when a company is thinking about the occupational health and wellness of their employees, they need to be looking at what they can implement into their current business structure to enhance the health of their employees.

Healthy Integration: Building a Fit Company

Corporate wellness programs can include many different options like smoking cessation, weight loss and obesity prevention, blood pressure checkups and safe practices around sleeping, and stress management. A company can put healthy food options in and around the building and work together with wellness organizations to bring those food options in at an affordable rate. But when it comes to implementing these occupational health and wellness programs into the company, there are a few musts that need to happen:

• Health screenings and education must be offered and they need to be voluntary. By helping your workers educate themselves about their health, not only can you understand your workforce better but they can become more productive and knowledgeable about themselves.
• Link in wellness programs with your current support programs. If you have employee assistance for individuals who have situations that affect their work, tie in the wellness portions into these. Not only does this make them feel more comfortable reaching out but they will know that they are cared for as human beings not just as employees.
• Develop your wellness program with what your employees are interested in and then embed it into the entire organizational structure of your company. Make it so that the programs are easy to get involved in by being something that your employees want.
• Make sure that your company is health-conscious. This means has healthy food and drink options at every juncture in your company hallways. Provide employees with breaks where they must head out and walk for twenty minutes and so on and so forth.

Finally, make sure that your programs are practical and accessible to all employees. For instance, offer yoga classes during lunch or fitness challenges each month. Make sure that there is plenty of notice for wellness programs up and around your company, and promote work-life-play balance to all!

Some workplaces are required to drug test job applicants before hiring them and for others, it is a choice. Many employers perform post-employment drug testing to enforce a zero-tolerance policy. A business that wants to start conducting employee drug screenings can contact a company that offers workforce drug screening services. Here are some frequently asked questions about employee drug testing.

What is the most common type? Pre-employment drug screening is the most common kind of drug screening conducted.

Which employers are required to perform drug testing before a person is hired? Federal companies are required to conduct pre-employment urine testing. For other companies, drug screening is optional.

Why do companies test for drugs? Before employment, the company protects itself from the negative effects of hiring a drug user. After employment, companies may conduct drug screening randomly, after accidents or with reasonable suspicion of drug use.

How many companies perform pre-employment drug testing? More than half conduct drug screening on potential employees.

What are the benefits of drug testing? Benefits include high productivity, less absenteeism, fewer accidents and low rates of turnover.

What are the different types of tests? The test that is used in the workplace most often is the urine test. It is the only method allowed by federal companies. Oral fluid testing is best at detecting any recent drug use and the person can be observed while it is collected which means no one can tamper with the specimen. Hair testing can detect drug use in the last 90 days and the donor can’t cheat on it.

Is drug testing effective? After a drug testing program is implemented, companies see a decrease in employees missing work, accidents involving worker’s compensation claims and turnover rates. Productivity increases after program initiation and the workplace is safer, meaning fewer accidents and an environment more conducive to employee morale and productivity. Companies that implement drug testing will find it has a positive impact and it is worth the investment.

Many employers are interested in workplace wellness programs. These may include health screenings, like for blood pressure and cholesterol. Some offer wellness information, like ways to help people reduce stress, stop smoking, or lose weight. Others offer health club memberships either free or at a reduced fee. On-site employee health testing is part of a workplace wellness program. Here are some benefits of these programs.

Employee Benefits

Employee health benefits include spending less money of doctor’s visits, co-pays, premiums, surgeries, medications, and procedures. A wellness program will help employees learn to lose weight, stop smoking, and reduce stress through coping strategies. Better health overall leads to better sleep, a better attitude and improved self-esteem.

As far as the job environment goes, a wellness program can help employees feel that the employer cares about them. Better health will make them more productive workers with fewer missed days because of illness or disability. This can lead to job security for the individual worker.

Also, the workplace will be safer and there will be a feeling of camaraderie because of the interaction with co-workers that is not related to work. Since health is a company goal, no one will feel alone and he or she will have support from others to help reach their goals.

Company Benefits

One of the main benefits of a workplace wellness program is financial. Workers that are healthy will be more productive and that increases value. They will also have fewer sick days and will not quit work due to a health issue. Overall, companies will pay less for worker’s compensation, disability and training to replacement workers.

A wellness program will increase worker morale since they see that the company is supporting a healthy workplace and working together with workers to improve their health. This can also improve the reputation of the company that can lead to higher qualified job seekers and better retention of employees.