Category — Corporate Wellness Program

Advantages of Stress Reduction Programs

While stress cannot be eliminated from life, or even from the workplace, coping skills can be developed with relative ease. Stress management skills lead to decreased absenteeism and more effective, more productive workers. Because stress has been shown to contribute to such physical conditions as ulcers, high blood pressure and stroke, stress reduction has a direct impact on improving physical health.

Studies have shown that heart patients who attend stress management initiatives have 42 percent lower healthcare costs. Other research studies have documented a 50 percent reduction in medical services use when stress management initiatives are employed. Further, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) experts estimate that 20 percent of any workforce is affected by individual problems that can influence work performance.

Stress reduction tactics to consider:

• Provide worplace yoga or meditation classes.
• Organize support groups among workers.
• Sponsor stress management classes during the workday.
• Provide an employee assistance program that includes both counseling and referral.
• Provide worplace counseling for workers in the case of a work-related trauma, such as the death of a co-worker.

Advantages of Prenatal Care and Breastfeeding

The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is particularly relevant to when applied to preventive measures taken during pregnancy, when a few extra ounces of birth weight can save a child’s life. During pregnancy, simple precautions can help avoid catastrophic results; giving up smoking, for instance, drastically reduces the risk of miscarriage and pre-term labor.

The March of Dimes reports that if all women took adequate folic acid before conception and during pregnancy, the number of babies born with a neural tube defect could drop by as much as 70 percent. The physical and emotional benefits of proper prenatal care to a mother and child are underscored by a strong organization case for offering prenatal wellness benefits. Nationwide’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Michael Moore, estimates costs to care for one baby delivered prematurely could approach $500,000.

First steps in fostering a prenatal program:
• Invite the March of Dimes to present information about prenatal health at an worker brownbag lunch or breakfast meeting.
• Hold prenatal care information classes for interested workers at lunchtime.
• Provide educational materials about the effects of alcohol, drugs and smoking on an unborn child.
• Provide incentives for adopting healthy lifestyles during pregnancy.
• Provide prenatal initiatives and education as part of the organization healthcare package.