Employee & Family Assistance Programs/Wellness Programs
For decades, "wellness" in the corporate world meant employee morale and team spirit. "Health" promotion was designed to be offered at little or no cost, and with no expected return on investment. Programs were targeted to improve physical health and included topics such as the value of nutrition, exercise, laughter, etc. These initiatives delivered a caring message from employer to employee.
In today's workplace environment, research has proliferated in the area of workplace health. Establishing and maintaining optimal health is no longer the sole responsibility of the employee, it has evolved into a shared, collaborative effort between both the employer and employee.
A significant proportion of chronic illnesses are preventable or manageable through modified lifestyle behaviours. Programs to target workplace initiatives are aimed at improving employee physical health and psycho-social well-being. There is a definite relationship between health and the bottom line.